Latest news with #MarkMatthews
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why 'uncertain' consumers are retailers' biggest challenge
Retailers are split on how to handle tariffs: Some are raising prices, while others are absorbing the hit. National Retail Federation executive director of research Mark Mathews joins Morning Brief to explain how consumer uncertainty is shaping spending patterns and what strategies could help retailers stay competitive. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Morning Brief here. Well, retailers across the U.S. are taking different approaches to tariffs, with some raising prices for consumers and others choosing to eat the costs. Joining us now, we've got Mark Matthews, who's the National Retail Federation Executive Director of Research. Good to have you back on the program with us. How are you viewing the retail landscape right now and and the pulse that you're hearing from some of the executives in the face of some of the uncertainty that they're citing when they report earnings? Yeah, it's a great question. It's a really challenging environment right now, uh, just trying to understand what the consumer is doing and how the consumer is behaving. In January and February, we saw, uh, strong disposable income, we saw strong, uh, you know, consumer finances, but sentimentally, consumers have been weak. Uh, you know, as we all know, sentiment is is very low. Uh, and we definitely saw some fallback, fall off in spending in in January and February. Uh, however, we saw the opposite in in March and April, uh, as we saw consumers pull purchases forward because they were worried about tariffs. And and right now, I guess the big question for everybody is, you know, what's going to happen next? Uh, you know, some of those pulled forward purchases represent lost future sales, uh, and we still have a very uncertain consumer. Uh, so the the the challenge becomes understanding where they're headed. And right now, as we see, consumers are are are uncertain, they're concerned, and it looks like, you know, we we see a lot of trading down. You know, consumers are looking for value for the for their dollar. Yeah, they certainly are, Mark. It makes me wonder, too, which retailers are best positioned to win in that particular environment. What do you think is the winning strategy for retailers to navigate tariff policy? Yeah, I think we saw something pretty similar in in 2022 when we had high inflation. When the consumer is out there looking for the best price, uh, you want to be a retailer that is offering the best price. Uh, you want your consumer to believe that, uh, they're getting value for their dollars. So I think that's a challenge for everybody, and uncertain consumer means that they're going to be much more careful with, uh, with their money.
Metro
13-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are available now at one UK retailer
They're not going to last, but if you're very quick a big UK retailer has the Nintendo Switch 2 console in stock at the moment, via a range of different bundles. The Nintendo Switch 2 launches worldwide on June 5 but from the first moment pre-orders opened stock hasn't stayed available anywhere for more than a few minutes. That's probably not going to change until much later in the year and since there's never any forewarning, all anyone can really do is keep checking known retailers as often as possible. One of our readers has been doing exactly that and thanks to Mark Matthews we can tell you that as of time of writing Very does have stock of the console and a number of different bundles. As far as we can tell nobody else, including Nintendo themselves, has got new stock in but Very does and has created some unofficial bundles for it. You can't get the console, or the console and Mario Kart World, alone but the following more expensive variants are currently available: Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World + Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for £494 Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World + Samsung Micro SD Card for £479 Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World + Switch 2 Camera for £479 It's a lot of money but if you have it they are pretty good deals, because Tears Of The Kingdom is a great game and the SD card and camera are useful accessories, depending on how you intend to use the console. The high cost is no doubt why they're still available an hour after first being spotted but if they're gone by the time you read this, apologies for getting your hopes up. It's hard to tell what will happen with stock of newly launched consoles at the best of times, but given the situation with tariffs in the US it's especially difficult when it comes to the Switch 2. More Trending Apart from anything, and as Nintendo has already pointed out, tariffs on other non-luxury goods, including food, mean that people in the US are going to have less money than usual to spend on video games this year. Pre-orders are regularly available on eBay but there's always a risk in trying to buy something where the seller doesn't physically have the item yet, not to mention the inflated prices. If all goes well then the Switch 2 should be more readily available by Christmas, but the more popular it is the more difficult it is going to be to buy one. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: New Persona annoucement due this week but prepare for disappointment MORE: Horizon Zero Dawn 3 scheduled for 2027 as a cross-gen PS6 game claims rumour MORE: The 20 exclusive games that made Nintendo Switch the best console ever
Metro
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Games Inbox: Is the Nintendo Switch 2 sold out in the UK?
The Friday letters page is not impressed by Xbox's portable plans, as one reader makes what could be the first ever pre-order for GTA 6. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ Ctrl + F5 So, the Switch 2 was out of stock before I even got to see the annoucement about not needing an invitation to buy from Nintendo. No surprise there, of course, but it means that the Switch 2 is effectively sold out in the entire UK and I would assume most of the world – it certainly seems to be the same in Japan. I imagine Nintendo will try to focus on the US to get the most amount of stock, but we're looking at a total sell out for launch. What I wonder is how much we'll see after that. The summer is meant to be the quiet time for games, so are they going to be able to manufacture a lot more before Christmas? Everyone knowing your console is so popular it sold out immediately is pretty good publicity, so I'm not sure how worried Nintendo is going to be, but it is a shame that this isn't working out like the PlayStation 5 launch. For that we got advance warning of when and where new stock would arrive. Bots and scalpers got most of them but at least you knew you had a chance. Now I just randomly refresh websites in the vague hope of catching something, but it never happens. Franky First amongst equals I've just preordered GTA 6 at my local independent video game shop. I have put a £10 deposit down. They obviously don't know the RRP yet, so I imagine I'll be paying another £80–100, at least, on launch day. I wonder if this makes me the first to pre-order the game? I just hope the game shop doesn't close down waiting for the game to release – I foresee further delays in my crystal ball. Mark Matthews Only on PlayStation Since it's obvious now that there is no such thing as an Xbox exclusive anymore, I wonder how long until we start to see publishers not bothering to publish games on the Xbox Series X/S. It already happens occasionally with Japanese or indie games but that's always been the case. At some point though big publishers are going to realise that they're just wasting money publishing something on the Xbox Series X/S, when PlayStation basically has the high-end market to themselves. (Nintendo, as always, is something else.) I don't say this with any glee, I'm just curious. The slow decline of Xbox has been pretty sad to see and while I understand they're probably banking on streaming replacing consoles does that mean they'll start making all their games exclusives again when they do? That seems a really risky thing to try and reverse. Alegy Email your comments to: gamecentral@ Very backwards compatibility I was a bit disappointed when I first bought my Nintendo Switch, that no streaming services were added apart from YouTube. I wonder if Switch 2, with its increase to 4K will have Netflix, Paramount, and Disney+, etc.? Also, nobody seems to have asked, will it play 4K discs? Plus, I have a large collection of Betamax tapes. I know video cassettes are too large to fit into a Switch 2, but maybe they will release an adaptor. I hope so, as I haven't watched my copy of Driller Killer in years! Tim Keeling Vision quest I did indeed spend my money on the Meta Quest 3. Trepidation grips me. It is time to get heavy with VR. The table is now laid. I've come a long way from whatever it was that I've left behind. Each to our own. It's all about the experience, no? I cannot wait to hang onto this VR branch while it lasts. I don't feel bad about shelving Switch 2 in favour of Quest 3 one bit. VR was always the natural progression for me. I'm super hyped right now. The fact that everything is up for grabs, to all comers is the richest tapestry presented of such a wonderful hobby. D Dubya In the frame As they tend to push graphics and open world detail for the gen I'm pretty sure most, if not all, of the 3D GTA games have struggled to maintain 30fps when released. Will 30fps be a deal breaker for me with GTA 6? Maybe. maybe not. Some of my favourite games ever I blissfully played at sub-30 fps and myopic resolutions, especially on the N64. But standards improve and your tolerances adjust. Could GTA 6 be like Cyberpunk 2077 on PlayStation 4? I got my money back from Sony with that game and decided to wait until PlayStation 5 to play it. I had the PS4 Pro as well, but it still wasn't up to par. At least Rockstar has shown base console footage, unlike CD Projekt Red prior to launch of Cyberpunk 2077. I did buy a Switch for Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom and although it's one of just a few games I've played at 30fps in the last five years it was an amazing game. So, I think if GTA 6 is Tears Of The Kingdom good and it's a rock solid, properly frame paced 30fps I'll probably in truth end up buying it day one. Simundo Nothing lasts forever Just seen that Call Of Duty is losing players but maybe you can answer me a question, please? From the first Call Of Duty it's been smashing records and yet here we are, 20+ years later, and Xbox owning it is still smashing records. How can it be doing that what, with it being reported this week that player counts have dropped? So how can it be still breaking records? It's on Game Pass so that's costing it sales, so what would you say is the truth? David GC: We're not really sure what you're asking. Black Ops 6 did break records at launch, but interest in Warzone has been dropping off rapidly and it's likely that is primarily responsible for the dip in numbers. The recent return of Verdansk may reverse that trend though. Elden prequel It does definitely seem like something out of a fevered dream, that an Elden Ring film is in the works. I agree with it being an unusual choice but literally the only way to satisfy the fanbase is to literally be like the game and with no jokes or humour. It also has to have no cheese and be dark fantasy at its purist. I take it the writers and producers know what they're doing but are they expecting considerable profits from the film? The feeling is that if it's done exactly like the game, the film may be good but a niche cult classic. Or it totally betrays the game and possibly does better because of the more mainstream feel to it. As to when in the timeline to set the film, the main part of the story needs to happen well before the Tarnished starts questing. Which means Marika's ordeal and then what she did to the world after. Marika is the only one who we don't hear from, apart from Radagon obviously, and following this storyline would be interesting, what ultimately led into the War of the Shattering after the demigod assassination. Otherwise, it would have to be an original story of a Tarnished's journey through The Lands Between and somehow fudging a bunch of fights and character interactions and hoping it's clever enough to hold the audience. There have been a bunch of good films and TV programmes that have been influenced and licensed from games, that get to the soul of what the game is about. Which is an awesome achievement after many years of false starts. So I am optimistic about the Elden Ring film and hopefully it delivers and satisfies our expectations just like the original game did in 2022. But just to reiterate, that it still blows my mind that the film is a possibility at some point. Alucard GC: Elden Ring has plenty of humour. Iron Fist Alexander is one of the best characters. Inbox also-ransI know it's meaningless, but I really hope the Switch becomes the official best-selling console ever. The way Sony suddenly changed the total for the PlayStation 2 was so shameless, I'd love it if the Switch ends up beating the new number too. Onibee Just seen Konami's latest results and apparently the whole Silent Hill franchise has only sold 11.5 million copies in 25-odd years. I know horror doesn't usually sell that much with games but why do they keep making so many of these and we still don't have a new Castlevania? I really don't get it. Focus More Trending Email your comments to: gamecentral@ The small print New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers' letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content. You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader's Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot. You can also leave your comments below and don't forget to follow us on Twitter. MORE: Select Games Inbox: Was GTA 6 Trailer 2 a disappointment?Games Inbox: Was GTA 6 Trailer 2 a disappointment? MORE: Games Inbox: When will Halo be released on PS5? MORE: Games Inbox: Why has GTA 6 been delayed?
NBC Sports
15-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Mark Matthews Pledges to 2026 Navy All-American Bowl
Offensive lineman Mark Matthews (Fort Lauderdale, FL/ St. Thomas Aquinas High School), the four-star prosect has officially accepted his invitation to the 2026 Navy All-American Bowl. Having been selected to play in the twenty sixth edition of the Navy All-American Bowl, Matthews will play in the annual East vs. West matchup on Saturday, January 10, 2026, in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Bowl will be nationally televised, live on NBC at 1:00 PM ET, and will feature the nation's top 100 high school football players. STA Pipeline 🤝 🏆 Mark Matthews (@mark95matthews) has accepted his invitation to the 2026 Navy All-American Bowl#NavyAAB 🇺🇸 @AmericasNavy Matthews was selected by the Navy All-American Bowl Selection Committee, comprised of the All-American Bowl, 247Sports, and NXGN. Navy All-Americans are eligible for the Navy All-American Bowl Player of the Year Award, Anthony Muñoz Lineman of the Year Award, Navy All-American Bowl Defensive Player of the Year Award, Navy All-American Bowl Man of the Year, and Navy All-American Bowl Game MVP Award. Only 100 football players receive the honor of wearing the Navy All-American Bowl jersey each year. The 2026 Navy All-American Bowl from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, will be presented live on NBC and Peacock. About the All-American Bowl As an NBC Sports-owned property, the All-American Bowl is part of a marquee lineup of elite events that includes the Olympics and Paralympics, the Premier League, and primetime's #1 show for an unprecedented 13 consecutive years: Sunday Night Football. The All-American Bowl is annually the most-watched, most-talked about, and most-prestigious high school all-star event with more than four million unique television viewers and more than 25,000 fans in attendance. The history and tradition of the All-American Bowl is unparalleled, as it features: 594 draft picks; 103 Super Bowl champions; 274 Pro Bowl selections; and 18 Heisman finalists. For more information, visit or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram (@AABonNBC).
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rivals Camp Series Miami: The Garcia and Smith awards
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Rivals national recruiting analysts John Garcia, Jr. and Greg Smith look back at the Rivals Camp Series stop in South Florida on Sunday and hand out virtual hardware to some of the most intriguing prospects in attendance. Advertisement MORE RCS MIAMI: Rumor mill | Rankings impact | Asher Ghioto interview | Xavier Payne interview | Mark Matthews interview CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker OH, WHAT A CEILING: Mark Matthews Matthews looks the part of a future major Power Four offensive tackle prospect. He's fairly raw right now as a prospect after making the switch from the hardwood to the gridiron, and even then he was primarily a defensive lineman for a chunk of the 2024 season. But seeing him against a good group of pass rushers on Sunday makes it easy to see the potential. If it all comes together for Matthews the sky is the limit on his game. THE ASSASSIN: Jake Kreul Talking with a former Power Four linemen on hand Sunday, he tagged the IMG star as a pass rush assassin and it hasn't left my brain since. Kreul can beat blockers in such a variety of ways, they almost dictate how they will take the ensuing loss by their stance, early leverage off of the snap or by how quickly they retreat and give ground in fear of his speed. That edge bending ability and elite first step has most bailing upon the snap of the ball, but Kreul has really progressed with his counter game, overall strength and hand technique to the point he can get guys 50-plus pounds heavier than him on the ground with his speed to power combinations. There may not be a more polished pure pass rusher in the country at this rate. THE TECHNICIAN: Chancellor Barclay Barclay is truly a prototypical interior offensive lineman. The Orlando (Fla.) First Academy standout has just the right size. But his powerful punch stuns defenders as they try to maneuver by him. Barclay is able to redirect well and deal with counter moves because of his quick feet. You can tell that he's very advanced from a technical standpoint at a young age. As he continues to improve after getting to Clemson the Tigers could have a multi-year starter with him. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH CLEMSON FANS AT BULL MARKET: Brian Harris There's a lot to like about the Mandarin High standout. His size allows him to play both inside and outside on the defensive line. That type of versatility is something that all colleges are looking for because he can play in multiple schemes. Because Harris is so strong, he can take on bigger players inside and win consistently. He's got family from Philadelphia and Penn State is recruiting him hard. It'll be tough to beat the Nittany Lions but Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina and others are trying. DEVELOPMENTAL DARLING: Chancellor Campbell An SEC legacy who has always turned heads because of his 6-foot-8 build, Campbell has frequented Rivals events over the years and the development has shown. He now looks to be as comfortable as ever on the edge, anticipating smaller rushers trying to win leverage and/or the edge against him. Campbell is more filled out, now at 310 pounds, so he is able to win with both his length and improved power at the contact point. Improved footwork has his redirection game headed in the right direction simultaneously, so it's no wonder Ohio State, Penn State, Florida and Miami are battling here. SATURDAY READY: Asharri Charles The Venice (Fla.) High School standout has built up his resume as a combo rusher over the years, savvy against the pass and plenty stout against the run with a good motor. It means the floor is high and the dozens of offers reflect that, but Charles has some game-breaker elements to his skill set as well. The ceiling has never looked better for the four-star, especially as he carries more bulk on his 6-foot-3 frame without any signs of slowing down. He won against fellow Power Four prospects with quickness, including on a pretty inside spin move and a smooth dip on the outside, so as the power becomes permanent a full package could soon be at his disposal. STANDING ON BUSINESS: Aiden Hartnett There may not have been a player at the camp that generated more buzz than Harnett. He goes by the nickname 'Big Country' so you knew he'd be ready to mix it up. He didn't disappoint at all. Hartnett wasn't happy with just winning reps; he wanted to dominate them. And when he did, he made sure to talk a lot of trash. Hartnett had a day that will be tough to forget from this year's Rivals Camp Series. BUY THIS STOCK EARLY: Ismael Schiefer There is already a buzz for Schiefer at IMG Academy and it doesn't take very long to see just why. He is built like the prototype edge rusher relative to his age and he has some refinement to his game despite the youth. His camp is thrilled he gets to battle blue-chippers every day and it has accelerated a development that many of college football's elite are keeping close tabs on. After one win Sunday, an onlooker yelled towards the class of 2028 talent, 'that's why Georgia loves you!' TRANSFER TO WATCH: Cameron McHaney McHaney is a well built prospect in the interior of the defensive line. He recently transferred down to IMG Academy from Detroit to get more exposure which may come sooner than later. Now he'll get to go against opposing linemen daily that are going to major Power Four programs. That'll help sharpen his skills quickly. We like what we've seen so far from McHaney. He's quick off the ball and plays with good leverage which allows him to win a lot of reps. It'll be interesting to see how far his development and recruitment speeds up over the next few months. A SLEEPER NO MORE: Dylan Harris When you turn heads at a camp registration because of a 6-foot-5, 241-pound build to go along with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, extra eyeballs gravitate that way once the competition begins as well. That was Harris on Sunday, working both inside and out along the defensive front with clear athleticism and potential to his name. Also a basketball player who averaged a double-double last season, it's no wonder some of his offers are coming in at tight end while other programs see him on defense. This is a name that should garner more and more traction as the year wears on. Credit to Boston College, Tulane, South Florida and others for already sitting on the offer list.
