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CVS raised its full-year profit forecast and said earnings would rise in 2026, a sign of hope as it navigates a turbulent retail environment and government scrutiny.

The company’s core consumer is shopping more frequently while purchasing fewer items per visit — an indication that they’re financially pressured, CEO Todd Vasos said on a call with analysts. 

Costco is one of the biggest corporate players to jump into a challenge of the Trump administration's tariffs largely driven this year by small businesses and Democratic state officials.

The value of retail purchases, not adjusted for inflation, increased 0.2% after a 0.6% gain in August, Commerce Department data showed, after being delayed due to the government shutdown.

Retailers are expressing optimism about the resilience of U.S. consumers, a sentiment that could soon be put to the test as tariff-fueled price hikes increasingly show up on shelves.

Amazon still dominates the $1.3 trillion e-commerce market in the U.S., capturing about 40 cents of every dollar spent online, and Walmart’s online metrics are growing from a smaller base.

The returns process is costly. When factoring in every step a retailer goes through to ship, return and reship items, each transaction influences a retailer’s time, money and product waste.

The company is seeking to broaden its range of low-cost offerings through the program, said people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named because the test hasn’t been announced.

Walmart said shoppers are still spending about the same as they did a year or two ago, with a focus on food and essentials over discretionary purchases.

Business expect to pass through roughly half of tariff-related expenses to U.S. consumers still reeling from the pandemic-era inflation surge, according to a new survey.