Retail news on July 18, 2026

1. 0117:15 UTC

   Laifen launches SE hair dryer at select Costco U.S. warehouses

   3 outlets · first: Pr Newswire Consumer trends

   Machine summary Laifen announced the launch of its SE High-Speed Hair Dryer at select Costco warehouse locations in the United States, according to a company announcement.

   1. Laifen announced the launch of its SE High-Speed Hair Dryer at select Costco warehouse locations, according to the company.
   2. Laifen said the launch marks its largest U.S. retail expansion to date.
   3. Romeo, General Manager of International Business of Laifen, said Costco represents an important milestone in the company's U.S. retail strategy.

   Reported by Pr Newswire, manilatimes.net and thailand-business-news.com.

   • Costco
   • SE High-Speed Hair Dryer
   • Laifen

2. 0216:30 UTC

   Honda confirms Prologue retired, ending its U.S. EV lineup

   2 outlets · first: techcrunch.com Market trends

   Machine summary TechCrunch reported that Honda confirmed the Prologue is retired and that this ends Honda’s last all-electric offering in the U.S. TechCrunch said CarBuzz first reported on July 16 that the Prologue program was ending, and that TechCrunch then confirmed with Honda that the vehicle was going out of production.

   1. Honda confirmed to TechCrunch that the Prologue has been retired, ending its last all-electric vehicle offering in the U.S.
   2. The reports state the $7,500 federal tax credit ended in fall 2025.
   3. The reports state that in March 2026 a joint venture gave up on two Afeela-branded EVs.

   Reported by techcrunch.com and techweekly.co.za.

   • Honda

3. 0311:45 UTC

   Bahrain ministry alleges four food shops violated consumer law

   1 outlet · first: gdnonline.com

   Machine summary Key facts from the reports:

   1. The ministry said its Inspection Directorate carried out routine and surprise visits to commercial establishments across Bahrain.

   Reported by gdnonline.com.

   • Four food shops (unnamed)

4. 0417:15 UTC

   Tokyo Cool Biz hits 35°C and retailers rush casual workwear

   1 outlet · first: asiaone.com Consumer trends

   Machine summary Tokyo's Cool Biz push is associated with shorts and sneakers in the office as record heat drives demand for climate-adaptive apparel. Retailers Aeon, Fast Retailing and Aoki are expanding quick-drying, stretchable business-casual lines to capture the shift.

   1. Tokyo Metropolitan Government is encouraging staff to wear shorts, T-shirts and sneakers instead of jackets and ties under the Tokyo Cool Biz campaign to cope with severe heat and reduce energy costs.
   2. Tokyo Cool Biz builds on a nationwide Cool Biz initiative first launched in 2005.
   3. Aeon and other retailers have broadened business-casual offerings; Fast Retailing and Aoki, meanwhile, are marketing lightweight, stretchable, quick-drying apparel to office workers.

   Reported by asiaone.com.

   • Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Each summary and its key facts are a machine summary of the reports linked under it; the outlets, times and counts come from those reports' own records. How a rundown is built.