News of Amazon .com Inc.’s department store plans sent a shudder through retail stocks just as some of the biggest names in the industry were reporting robust earnings, a signal that new challenges await in the beleaguered sector.

Imported goods continued to flood into the U.S. in July as the nation’s ports produced substantial container volumes.

The partial closure of the world’s third-busiest container port is worsening congestion at other major Chinese ports, as ships divert from Ningbo amid uncertainty over how long virus control measures in the city will last.

Global trade in goods might be close to plateauing — albeit at a record level — amid an outlook clouded by regional imbalances and coronavirus outbreaks that slow economic activity, the World Trade Organization said.

A shareholder vote on the proposed $33.6 billion acquisition of Kansas City Southern by Canadian National Railway has been delayed until Sept. 3 to provide time for government officials to rule on whether CN can operate KCS while the deal is under federal review.

Deutsche Post AG has agreed to acquire German logistics company Hillebrand for about 1.5 billion euros ($1.8 billion).

NEW YORK — Americans cut back on their spending in July as a surge in COVID-19 cases kept people away from stores.

Walmart Inc.’s pandemic-driven gains in e-commerce slowed last quarter and profit margin fell, raising questions about the retailer’s ability to maintain momentum even after it topped Wall Street’s sales expectations.

The biggest U.S. trade gateway with Asia is clogged with the most inbound container vessels in more than six months, threatening to extend transportation delays, bite further into margins for American importers and boost prices for consumers.

The recent merger of GlobalTranz Enterprises and Worldwide Express is still in the getting-to-know-you phase and steps are being discussed to become fully integrated, executives from both companies said.