Retail News at a Glance, 6 October 2026

Retail News at a Glance, 6 October 2026. What happened this week in Australian retail and retail technology.

Target joins Uber Eats with under-hour delivery

Target Australia launches on Uber Eats with more than 25,000 items across fashion, beauty, homewares, toys and baby, delivered in under 60 minutes from selected stores, Uber announces on 30 September. More stores join in the new year. Why it matters: Uber says Target is the first fashion retailer in Australia on the platform. Uber.

Aldi starts automated distribution centre in Sydney

Aldi begins building a reported $1 billion-plus automated distribution centre at Bradfield in Western Sydney, Retail Biz reports. The 108,000-square-metre centre is to be about 80 per cent automated, handle up to 680,000 cases a day and open in 2030, replacing three NSW sites. Why it matters: Aldi is automating supply to its NSW and ACT stores. Retail Biz.

Shopping centre sales up 3.2 per cent

Shopping centre retail sales rise 3.2 per cent in the year to the June quarter 2026, the Shopping Centre Council of Australia and Urbis say in their first Retail Insights report. Specialty shops grow 4.0 per cent and majors 2.4 per cent; occupancy is 98.8 per cent. Why it matters: specialty tenants are growing faster than anchors. SCCA and Urbis.

Household spending flat in August, ABS says

Household spending is unchanged in August in seasonally adjusted terms and up 6.8 per cent on a year earlier, the ABS says. Transport rises 2.3 per cent while clothing and footwear falls 1.0 per cent; discretionary spending slips 0.3 per cent. Why it matters: discretionary categories soften ahead of peak trading. ABS.

Best Buy to sell nearly 10,000 items on TikTok Shop

Best Buy will list nearly 10,000 products on TikTok Shop in the US from late October, fulfilling orders itself and accepting returns in store or by mail, it announces on 22 September. Why it matters: a large electronics chain adds social commerce as a channel before the holidays. Best Buy.

Meta launches Muse agent for small businesses

Meta launches Muse for Small Business, an AI agent that works across tools including Shopify, Stripe, Klaviyo and Meta ad accounts, it announces on 29 September. Meta says nothing publishes, sends or spends without the owner's approval. Why it matters: AI agents reach small retailers' back offices; it is available in the US and Canada, not Australia. Meta.