01
What changed in e-commerce regulation and policy this week?
Government decisions, new rules and policy shifts reported this week.
02
On August 19, 2026, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a proposed enforcement policy to regulate personalized pricing practices that utilize consumer data.
Read at thestreet.com ↗03
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, that it is seeking public comment on a new enforcement policy regarding personalized pricing.
Read at foodnavigator.com ↗04
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed the Fair Price Protection Act in July 2026, prohibiting grocery stores and delivery platforms from using personal data for individualized pricing.
Read at thestreet.com ↗05
On August 14, 2026, Amazon reinstated binding arbitration for its U.S. customers and prohibited them from filing class-action lawsuits.
Read at insurancejournal.com ↗What funding rounds and acquisitions happened in e-commerce this week?
The week’s notable investments, financing rounds, acquisitions and strategic deals.
06
John Roman, co-founder of the outdoor gear company BattlBox, details the company's history from its 2015 launch to its acquisition by Emerge Commerce in 2021 and subsequent buyback in March 2023.
Read at practicalecommerce.com ↗07
Oasis Management Co. has formally requested that Kakaku.com Inc. withdraw its support for a buyout bid from EQT AB.
Read at bloomberg.com ↗What products launched in e-commerce this week?
Notable product launches, releases and platform updates from the week.
08
eBay has released its 2026 Holiday Selling Playbook to assist marketplace sellers in preparing for the upcoming peak season.
Read at ecommercebytes.com ↗09
Amazon announced plans to expand its Prime Air drone delivery service to nearly 500 towns and cities across the United States by the end of 2026.
Read at retail-systems.com ↗10
Amazon is expanding its Prime Air drone delivery service to 500 cities across the United States.
Read at businessinsider.com ↗11
IKEA is launching a peer-to-peer marketplace in the UK for customers to buy and sell pre-owned furniture.
Read at channelx.world ↗12
Glass, a San Francisco-based technology company, announced the release of new AI-powered features for its G-Commerce government procurement marketplace on August 19, 2026.
Read at digitalcommerce360.com ↗13
Amazon has launched its first Prime Air drone delivery site in the UK, located in Darlington.
Read at internetretailing.net ↗14
Alipay launched China's first full-stack agentic commerce platform on August 17, 2026, in Hangzhou.
Read at finextra.com ↗15
Amazon announced plans to expand its Prime Air drone delivery service to three new U.S. metropolitan areas: Atlanta, Chicago, and Cleveland.
Read at retaildive.com ↗8 of 9 product launches events are listed; the rest were ranked lower by importance and multi-source corroboration and are not shown.
What financial results were reported in e-commerce this week?
Earnings, guidance and other financial results reported this week.
16
U.S. Polo Assn. reported record global retail sales of $2.7 billion for the year 2025, an increase from $2.5 billion in 2024.
Read at modernretail.co ↗17
Walmart reported a 23% increase in global e-commerce sales and a 24% rise in U.S. e-commerce sales for the second quarter of 2026.
Read at foxbusiness.com ↗18
Walmart reported a 24% increase in U.S. e-commerce sales for the second quarter of 2026, driven by faster delivery speeds and the use of local stores as fulfillment centers.
Read at freightwaves.com ↗19
Carvana Co. shares recovered following a two-day decline after reports confirmed that billionaire Mark Walter has pledged his stake in the company.
Read at bloomberg.com ↗20
Online fast-fashion retailer Shein is targeting an IPO valuation of approximately $25 billion in Hong Kong, a significant decrease from its previous $100 billion valuation.
Read at retail-systems.com ↗21
Walmart U.S. reported net sales of $125.2 billion for the fiscal second quarter ending July 31, 2026, representing a 3.5% increase year-over-year.
Read at supermarketnews.com ↗22
Alibaba reported a 75% drop in net income to RMB10.4bn for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, due to increased investment in AI infrastructure.
Read at internetretailing.net ↗What research was published in e-commerce this week?
New research findings and studies published this week.
23
Adobe Analytics reports that shoppers arriving at U.S. retail sites via AI referrals spend 53% more per visit and convert at a 60% higher rate than non-AI traffic as of July 2026.
Read at digitalcommerce360.com ↗What incidents and outages hit e-commerce this week?
Incidents, outages and safety events reported this week.
24
An Amazon Prime Air MK-30 drone dropped a customer's package directly into a swimming pool in Texas in August 2026.
Read at futurism.com ↗25
Australian retailer Oz Hair and Beauty confirmed a cyber incident involving unauthorized access to its online platform.
Read at insideretail.com.au ↗26
Pokémon Center notified customers in the United Kingdom and Germany that their personal and order data was exposed following a cyberattack on their third-party logistics provider, CEVA Logistics.
Read at bleepingcomputer.com ↗What partnerships were announced in e-commerce this week?
Partnerships, integrations and joint projects announced this week.
27
DoorDash has announced new partnerships with retailers including Gap, Gap Factory, Kohl’s, Carter’s, and Barnes & Noble to facilitate back-to-school shopping for the 2026-2027 school year.
Read at thestreet.com ↗28
Authentic Brands announced an expanded strategic partnership with Luzern eCommerce on August 20, 2026.
Read at channelx.world ↗29
Amazon and AutoStore have signed a global supply agreement to integrate fulfillment technology.
Read at supplychaindive.com ↗30
Synchrony has entered into a partnership with OpenAI to integrate AI models into its customer portals, loyalty programs, and agentic commerce initiatives.
Read at paymentsjournal.com ↗What else happened in e-commerce this week?
Developments from the week that fit none of the other sections.
31
Walmart-owned Flipkart is rapidly expanding its quick-commerce service, Flipkart Minutes, which launched in August 2024 in India.
Read at techcrunch.com ↗32
Dominick Reuter, a senior retail reporter for Business Insider, discusses the evolving landscape of retail delivery services.
Read at businessinsider.com ↗33
The global retail media market is projected to reach $200.4 billion in 2026 and $223.4 billion by 2027, according to WARC Media.
Read at internetretailing.net ↗34
Influencers and resellers are increasingly trading empty luxury product boxes on platforms like eBay, Vinted, and Poshmark.
Read at wired.com ↗35
Columbia House announced it will stop accepting new orders after September 15, 2026.
Read at gizmodo.com ↗36
Reddit is facing increased brand activity as marketers attempt to influence consumer sentiment and AI model training data.
Read at adexchanger.com ↗37