Pets take center stage in Valentine’s Day spending
As Valentine’s Day approaches, consumers are expanding their celebrations beyond partners and friends to include pets. New estimates show that spending on […]
Millionaire tax proposal draws record response as lawmakers weigh revisions
The proposed income tax on high earners, known as the Millionaire Tax and introduced as SB 6346, has become one of the […]
Rounding cash transaction bills advance in Olympia
Legislation that would allow cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest five cents is moving forward in the Washington Legislature as […]
Workers’ comp bill addresses symptoms within a system in need of reform
As the Legislature reaches the halfway point of session this week, the Legislature heard and advanced four workers’ compensation bills with significant […]
Retail spending shows uneven momentum across income levels
Retail sales exceeded expectations in 2025, remaining a bright spot in the broader economy. However, a closer look at consumer behavior shows that spending […]
Home Depot emphasizes brand authority and transparency in AI strategy
As artificial intelligence continues to shape how consumers search, shop, and interact with retailers, Home Depot is taking an active approach to […]
What we are tracking — WR Legislative Hot List
WR is closely monitoring the bills that have advanced through the legislative process. Each week, we’ll spotlight our weekly “hot list” key legislation that could […]
Washington Retail Association Board of Directors convenes in Olympia
WR held its Winter Legislative Board of Directors meeting on February 4, 2026, in Olympia, Washington. The full-day meeting brought together retail […]
Seattle Times Editorial: Fine-tune law to protect WA consumers from misleading emails
Feb. 2, 2026 By The Seattle Times editorial board For more than 25 years, Washingtonians have had consumer protection from, among other laws, […]
Senate committee advances SB 5965 to ban plastic carryout bags
The Senate Environment & Energy Committee advanced SB 5965 on Monday, adopting a substitute version that would fully ban plastic carryout bags in Washington. […]
Seattle economic growth shows signs of slowing
Recent reporting highlights signs that the Seattle region’s long period of rapid economic expansion may be easing. Economists at the Puget Sound Regional Council reported that […]
Why digital shelf labels strengthen accuracy, customer trust, and workforce skills
Digital Shelf Labels (DSLs) are a simple, modern replacement for paper shelf tags. They display prices set by the retailer and cannot […]