
Crocs shares plummet as US shoppers rein in spending
Crocs warned of a "concerning" second half of the year, due to the high cost of living and the potential impact of US President Donald Trump's trade policies.Its chief financial officer, Susan Healy, said Crocs would take a $40m (£29.8m) hit for the remainder of 2025 due to tariffs."I think we can over the medium-term mitigate the impact of tariffs. That will come from cost savings in our supply chain," said Mr Rees.The footwear maker also warned that it has seen "ample evidence" that a portion of its customer base is now "super cautious" with their spending."They're not purchasing, they're not even going to the stores, and we see traffic down," Mr Rees said during a call with investors and journalists.Crocs said it will continue to pull back on discounting its products, cautioning that this could have a further impact on sales.Ahead of next year's football World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Mr Rees said consumers are "migrating back towards athletic" products.His comments came after Crocs reported second quarter revenue of $1.1bn, a 3% rise compared to the same period last year.The company also owns casual footwear brand HEYDUDE, following a $2.5bn takeover in late 2021.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
A top Federal Reserve official says dour jobs data backs the case for 3 rate cuts
A top official at the Federal Reserve said Saturday that this month's stunning, weaker-than-expected report on the U.S. job market is strengthening her belief that interest rates should be lower. Michelle Bowman was one of two Fed officials who voted a week and a half ago in favor of cutting interest rates. Such a move could help boost the economy by making it cheaper for people to borrow money to buy a house or a car, but it could also threaten to push inflation higher. Bowman and a fellow dissenter lost out after nine other Fed officials voted to keep interest rates steady, as the Fed has been doing all year. The Fed's chair, Jerome Powell, has been adamant that he wants to wait for more data about how President Donald Trump 's tariffs are affecting inflation before the Fed makes its next move. At a speech during a bankers' conference in Colorado on Saturday, Bowman said that 'the latest labor market data reinforce my view' that the Fed should cut interest rates three times this year. The Fed has only three meetings left on the schedule in 2025. The jobs report that arrived last week, only a couple of days after the Fed voted on interest rates, showed that employers hired far fewer workers last month than economists expected. It also said that hiring in prior months was much lower than initially thought. On inflation, meanwhile, Bowman said she is getting more confident that Trump's tariffs 'will not present a persistent shock to inflation' and sees it moving closer to the Fed's 2% target. Inflation has come down substantially since hitting a peak above 9% after the pandemic, but it has been stubbornly remaining above 2%. The Fed's job is to keep the job market strong, while keeping a lid on inflation. Its challenge is that it has one main tool to affect both those areas, and helping one by moving interest rates up or down often means hurting the other. A fear is that Trump's tariffs could box in the Federal Reserve by sticking the economy in a worst-case scenario called 'stagflation,' where the economy stagnates but inflation is high. The Fed has no good tool to fix that, and it would likely have to prioritize either the job market or inflation before helping the other. On Wall Street, expectations are that the Fed will have to cut interest rates at its next meeting in September after the U.S. jobs report came in so much below economists' expectations. Trump has been calling angrily for lower interest rates, often personally insulting Powell while doing so. He has the opportunity to add another person to the Fed's board of governors after an appointee of former President Joe Biden stepped down recently.


Times
2 hours ago
- Times
American TV adverts have restored my faith in Britain
I bring good news from across the Pond — things are not as bad as they could be. I am drawing this conclusion not from a forensic analysis of the political and economic situation in which we find ourselves. I'm drawing it from an ad break I watched in California at the weekend. It's enough. The break began with someone who looked very happy with his new car. The car was made in Japan — Maga boo! — but it was assembled entirely in Michigan — Maga hurrah! — and for just $399 a month I could be very happy too. Next, why not consolidate all my debts into one big debt, asked the debt-consolidation company. It did not suggest not buying a new car in the first place. Then came three fast-food ads — a bigger burger at a lower price, a whole tray of tacos for just $7.99 and what looked like a $10 wheelbarrow of ribs. At 9am, the thought of eating all that gave me heartburn, which is when the opportunists at Gaviscon struck. They were followed by the opportunists at the air freshener factory. Does your home smell of burgers and tacos? Do the windows not open? Then spray your home with chemicals and look how happy your guests will be. Five adverts in, you could argue that we're not so different here in the UK. We buy cars and fast food and some of us prefer room fresheners to housework. But we don't have anything like what came next. • Matt Rudd: Six-week school summer holidays? Our little darlings deserve it 'For so long I felt stuck, but Zepbound means change,' says a woman who starts doing the salsa. The woman is well built, but clearly not as well built as she was before she was injected with Zepbound, an Ozempicish medication for chronic weight management. Now she can salsa! Seconds later a large dad is teaching his kid to skateboard, which is much more fun, the subtext implies, than being cut out of your bedroom by the fire brigade. 'It's changing how much weight I lose,' says another woman as she zip wires over a forested valley. She lost 48lb, she reveals, as we're invited to imagine how the zip wire ride might have turned out without Zepbound. Then another large man goes swimming. The last time I was in the US, this 30-second sequence would have been followed by about four seconds of side-effects read out very quickly. Now they really take their time. 'Don't take if allergic to it or if you or someone in your family had medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2. Tell your doctor if you get a lump or a swelling in your neck.' Even if I wasn't taking Zepbound I'd probably tell my doctor if I had a lump in my neck, but they're not finished. 'Stop Zepbound and call your doctor if you have severe stomach pain or a serious allergic reaction.' The salsa dancing continues. 'Severe side-effects may include inflamed pancreas or gallbladder problems. • Matt Rudd: I used to think it was a waste of money keeping an old dog alive 'Tell your doctor if you experience vision changes, depression or suicidal thoughts.' The zip wire woman is beaming now. Should she be anywhere near a zip wire? 'If you're nursing, pregnant, plan to be, or are taking birth control pills, taking Zepbound with sulfonylureas or insulin may cause low blood sugar ' The chap the woman is dancing with is clearly up for it but they keep dancing. Is no one worried about the birth control and the low blood sugar? Still not finished. It can't be fun if you're too obese to zip wire, but it would be worse to zip wire with 'nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting, which can cause dehydration and worsen kidney problems.' Jeez. After 40 seconds of doom and gloom, the voiceover has the cheek to conclude, 'Zepbound means change.' There is time for one final advert, in which California's largest personal injury law firm will get me the payout I deserve. No American I ask seems to think any of this is unusual. Like lobsters in gently heating water, they've become accustomed to a string of fast-food ads followed by a heartburn ad followed by an obesity drug ad that consists mostly of what horrible things the drug could do to you. Suicide, diarrhoea and a woman on a zip wire is normal television. 'I think the drug companies got sued because they weren't clear enough about the side-effects,' says one Californian friend when I ask what's going on. 'We're just crazy,' says another. Gluttonous, consumerist, isolationist and litigious — we're not quite all of those things just yet. I told you things could be worse.


Auto Blog
2 hours ago
- Auto Blog
Ford Drops Sporty 2025 Explorer ST Lease Offer for August
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. If you're thinking about leasing the top dog 4Runner, you'll want to check out the numbers first. Ford Motor Co. has again delayed replacements for two key battery-electric models, the F-150 Lightning pickup and E-Transit commercial van as it shifts focus to more affordable EVs. It may also change plans for what was to be its $5.6 billion Blue Oval City EV plant near Memphis. A risk mitigation expert has explained how his patented technology enables first responders to make the best decisions in dealing with pure EV and hybrid fires. A sportier take on a family favorite For more than three decades, the Ford Explorer has been a familiar sight on American roads, evolving from a boxy SUV into a refined family hauler. However, the 2025 Explorer ST ups the excitement, blending everyday practicality with the performance and style of a true enthusiast's machine. The ST isn't just about sharper looks—it's powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 with muscle to spare and backed by a chassis tuned for spirited driving. It's proof that a three-row SUV can still make your pulse quicken. This August, Ford's lease offer makes stepping into one more tempting than ever. 0:09 / 0:09 The Ford Mach 4 could be the brand's first sedan since 2020 Watch More Ford's August lease deal turns heads This month, shoppers can lease a 2025 Explorer ST for $492 per month for 48 months with $6,139 due at signing. The offer includes 10,500 annual miles, waives the security deposit, and excludes taxes, title, and license fees. 2025 Ford Explorer ST — Source: Ford Given the ST's blend of performance and luxury features, this lease stacks up well against other performance-oriented SUVs in its class—especially considering its three-row versatility. Freshened design meets high performance For 2025, the Explorer lineup gets a subtle refresh, and the ST wears it especially well. A reshaped grille, slimmer LED headlights, and bold wheel designs give it an athletic stance, while inside, upgraded soft-touch surfaces and available contrast stitching add to the upscale feel. 2025 Ford Explorer ST 2025 Ford Explorer ST The standard 13.2-inch touchscreen runs Ford's quicker SYNC 4A infotainment system, and the available 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster keeps key performance data front and center. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, so you can keep your favorite driving soundtrack queued up without the cord clutter. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Under the hood, the ST packs a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 producing 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. It's enough to launch this family hauler with surprising urgency while still offering up to 5,600 pounds of towing capacity when properly equipped. Why the ST is more than just speed Yes, the ST is quick—but it's also built for daily life. Three rows of seating, up to 87.8 cubic feet of cargo space, and Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assist features mean it's as practical as it is fun. Adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and multiple USB ports make long trips easier, whether you're ferrying the kids to practice or heading out for a weekend getaway. 2025 Ford Explorer ST 2025 Ford Explorer With a wide dealer network and a lease offer that puts it within reach for more buyers, the Explorer ST stands out as a rare blend of performance, comfort, and capability in the three-row segment. Final thoughts Performance SUVs often require big compromises in space, comfort, or price—but the 2025 Explorer ST manages to keep things balanced. This August's lease offer gives driving enthusiasts a chance to get behind the wheel of one without stretching too far. If you've been waiting for an SUV that can haul both your gear and your adrenaline, the ST might be your perfect match. *Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. The information presented herein is based on manufacturer-provided lease offer information, which is subject to frequent change and may vary based on location, creditworthiness, and other factors. We are not a party to any lease agreements and assume no liability for the terms, conditions, availability, or accuracy of any lease offers mentioned. All terms, including but not limited to pricing, mileage allowances, and residual values, require direct verification with an authorized local OEM dealership. This article does not constitute financial advice or an endorsement of any particular lease or vehicle. About the Author Elijah Nicholson-Messmer View Profile