Weekly Insights Oct 9, 2015

Executive Summary

• E-commerce site Jet.com is dropping its annual membership fee in order to increase the pool of potential shoppers
• In a move to curb plastic waste, the UK government has introduced a levy of 5 pence (US$0.08) per shopping bag given out at supermarkets and large retail stores
• Toyota unveiled a modified Lexus GS that can drive itself on the highway, relying on sensors to navigate roads, merge lanes and overtake other vehicles
• International companies have reduced earnings forecasts due to declining commodity prices, rising inflation and the decline of the Brazilian currency, and US-based retailers have been unable to raise prices to offset the currency’s fall