Here’s how retailers plan to combat unpredictable customer spending as costs rise

• Roughly one in four U.S. businesses plans to shrink their product offerings over the next six months to handle rising freight costs and volatile consumer spending .
• Major brands like Under Armour and Helen of Troy are trimming underperforming product lines to simplify inventory and protect profit margins.
• The strategy shift follows ongoing trade uncertainty stemming from import duties enacted during the Trump administration.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection is issuing billions of dollars in duty refunds after the Supreme Court struck down key emergency tariffs.
• Companies such as Walmart, SharkNinja, and e.l.f. Beauty are using the tariff refunds to lower prices and absorb elevated transportation expenses.

IN FULL

Retailers are slashing their product lines because of tariffs and transportation costs