Retail — Inflation surges most since 2022 as tariff refund delays extend, Nike innovation chief exits, and Somnigroup pursues $2.5B vertical integration deal

Retail · 2026-04-14

TODAY'S SIGNAL — The retail operating environment is deteriorating on multiple fronts simultaneously. Inflation is surging at its fastest rate since 2022 while consumer sentiment has cratered to record lows, driven by Iran war anxieties cutting across every demographic. For retailers already managing margin pressure, CBP's disclosure that tariff refunds will now take 60-90 days — up from a…