Executive Summary

• This week’s note “From the Desk of Deborah Weinswig” discusses the outlook for US retail bankruptcies and store closures, and urges retailers to consider fresh approaches to their physical stores. 
• US retail sales declined a seasonally adjusted 0.2% month over month in February. That was well below the 0.2% increase that economists expected.
• UK department store retailer Debenhams this week confirmed a £200 million ($265 million) refinancing plan, of which £101 million ($134 million) will be available immediately to begin restructuring. 
• JD.com has launched a tool called the Online Pricing Optimizer in collaboration with American market measurement company Nielsen.