Retail
Kiefer Sage Launches New Mobility Product
The new product aims to modernize the company’s legacy electric shopping tool, Martcart.
New openings include chicken franchises, health food chains and Little Rock’s first Discount Tire.
Banking, education, health care and utilities all share the spotlight in this week’s Movers & Shakers.
Beneath holiday sales-driven growth, manufacturers are wrestling with weak new orders and farmers remain under heavy financial strain.
Retail Sales Rose a Better-Than-Expected 0.6% in November
The retail sales figures, which are not adjusted for inflation, showed that in most cases shoppers focused on gifts and pulled away from other areas. read more >
by Associated Press -
America’s Car-Mart Closes 13 Locations Amid Financial Struggles
The company said the dealerships were consolidated with better-performing locations. read more >
Inflation Cooled Slightly In December Though It Remains Above Fed’s Target
Many economists had expected inflation to jump last month as the government resumed normal data collection after the six-week shutdown last fall, so the modest increases that matched the November figures came as a relief. read more >
by Associated Press -
Murphy USA CEO Mindy West on Culture, Talent and Fuel Retail
Mindy West, Murphy USA's newest (and first female) CEO, elaborates on her path to the c-suite and the expectations and ambitions for the future. read more >
Arkansas Banks and Retailers Prepare for a Penny-Free Future
The farewell to the penny may be saving money at the U.S. Mint, but consumers and retailers will face challenges in order to adjust to the change. read more >
by Griffin Coop -
Nabholz Lands $8.3M Contract for Lexicon Office Makeover
This week's roundup of million-dollar construction deals includes office renovations, retail builds and new homes in Little Rock. read more >
Bentonville’s Onyx Coffee Lab Launches First-of-Its-Kind Coffee System
The system aims to maintain flavor while offering five different caffeine levels. read more >
State Unemployment Rises to 4.1% in November
Compared to a year ago, the jobless rate is up five-tenths of a percentage point, driven by losses in construction. read more >
Job Openings Slide to 2nd Lowest Level In 5 Years as Hiring Remains Sluggish
The report suggests that the “low-hire, low-fire” job market remains in effect, with workers enjoying some job security but those out of work struggling to find new jobs. read more >
by Associated Press -
7 Brew Surpasses 600 Stores as Growth Accelerates
New store formats and major franchise development deals have powered the Springdale chain's rapid expansion. read more >
State Tax Revenue Dips 1.2% in December
Individual income tax and sales tax collections partially offset lower corporate collections. read more >
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: What Employers Can Expect This Year (In The Workplace 2026)
EEOC leadership changes signaled possible revisions to Pregnant Workers Fairness Act rules, raising compliance questions for employers heading into 2026. read more >
by Jane Kim -
Where Employers Can and Can’t Draw the Line on Political Speech (In The Workplace 2026)
An Eighth Circuit ruling clarifies when employers could restrict political messaging at work. read more >
by Wynne James -
Are We Nearing the End of DEI? (In The Workplace 2026)
Federal DEI policy shifted in 2025 as EEOC and DOJ guidance, executive orders and court rulings reshaped employer obligations, with more enforcement expected in 2026. read more >
by Daveante Jones -
Religion, LGBTQ Rights and the Workplace: When Protected Interests Clash (In The Workplace 2026)
The EEOC and courts clarified how Title VII protects religious expression in the workplace while upholding LGBTQ anti-harassment protections, highlighting recent cases and undue hardship considerations for employers. read more >
by Stuart Jackson -
Employee Auto Accidents and Employer Risk (In The Workplace 2026)
The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that employers may face liability for employee-caused accidents while driving personal vehicles to job sites, depending on company travel policies and compensation for travel time. read more >
by Troy Price -
US Applications for Jobless Benefits Fell Below 200,000 Last Week With Layoffs Historically Low
Unemployment benefit filings are often distorted during holiday-shortened weeks. The shorter week can cause some who have lost jobs to delay filing claims. read more >
by Associated Press -
Trump Launched Global Tariff Wars In 2025. Here’s a Recap of His Trade Actions This Year
Volley after volley of threats and steeper import taxes often arrived erratically — with Trump claiming that such levies needed to be immediately imposed to close trade imbalances and take back wealth that was “stolen” from the U.S. read more >
by Associated Press -
Resilient US Consumers Drive Strongest Economic Expansion In 2 Years
U.S. gross domestic product from July through September — the economy’s total output of goods and services — rose from its 3.8% growth rate in the April-June quarter, the Commerce Department said. read more >
by Associated Press -
Retail Tech Brings Potential Investors to Northwest Arkansas
A Dallas-based venture capital firm took an unconventional road trip to northwest Arkansas. It came away more bullish than ever on the region’s startup potential. read more >
by Chloe McGehee -
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