Executive summary:

1. Amazon Announces Temporary Closure of Some Warehouses

2. Amazon updates the attribute configuration of 33 product types

3.81% of European and American consumers believe that online retail is the future trend

4.The exchange rate of RMB against the US dollar continues to be under pressure of depreciation

1

Amazon announces temporary closure of some warehouses

According to foreign media reports, as Hurricane "Ian" approached Florida, on September 27, the US e-commerce giant Amazon announced the temporary closure of some warehouses in the state.

According to a notice Amazon sent to employees, the company closed its warehouses near Tampa and Orlando on Tuesday. The company also said it expected the facilities to remain closed until Friday.

"We will continue to monitor the weather to provide timely information on when our warehouse facilities will reopen," Amazon said in a notice to workers at the Temple Terrace facility in the Tampa suburb.

In addition, Amazon spokesman Richard Rocha said in a statement that Amazon is closely monitoring the path of Hurricane Ian to make adjustments to the company's operations while keeping employees and delivery drivers safe. Amazon is liaising with employees and delivery partners to ensure they are aware of any site closures or unsafe conditions, and the company will make adjustments based on demand.

2

Amazon updates attribute configuration for 33 product types

Amazon’s US and European stations recently announced that they have updated the unit count and attribute configuration of 33 product types. From October, sellers need to fill in the newly updated attributes for the created listings or the listings created in batches, otherwise they will not be able to. on the shelf.

Unit Count: This attribute represents the total number of units of the product and is suitable for products by volume, weight, length, size, etc. This attribute also defines the unit of measure, matching units such as fluid ounces, ounces, feet, etc., based on the product's product type (PT) and product form. Using the unit count value also shows buyers the price per unit of the product.

Product Type: This attribute defines the product type of the product. For example, for the "shampoo" product type, it can be divided into cream, liquid and foam textures. If the product ASIN is a product type that requires a form, the seller must select an option from the drop-down list that best represents the product type.

3

81% of European and American consumers believe that online retail is the future trend

A new study released recently shows that in the current economic climate, consumers are showing great interest in shopping online because it allows them to better control their budgets and offers better prices than offline. Cheaper.

The data comes from the global payment solutions provider's latest industry report, The Global Retailer's Handbook, which gathers the opinions of 9,000 U.S. and European consumers and 500 enterprise merchants.

In the US and Europe, consumers are increasingly accepting of online shopping and digital payments, with 81% of consumers saying that online retailing is the future of retailing, research shows .

This data shows the importance of digital transformation for retailers, which will ensure that their businesses can ride the wave of the ever-evolving digital economy.

However, figures in the report show that the retail industry is facing a challenging environment. With raw material costs currently high, 76% of retailers are concerned about the financial health of their business.

On the flip side, cautious shoppers also face income concerns, with 80% of consumers saying they would abandon a purchase if they were concerned about the security of their payment environment. Therefore, the establishment of payment environment is also one of the key projects for retailers.

The report's data also shows that positive sentiment towards e-commerce and digital payments has remained consistently high over the past 12 months. In addition, 33% of consumers say that shopping online gives them more control over their budgets, and merchants see an opportunity to divest their brick-and-mortar operations and strengthen their digital presence as a way of realizing the business’s profitability when cash is tight. further growth.

4

The exchange rate of RMB against the US dollar continues to be under pressure of depreciation

As of 16:00 on September 29, the offshore RMB exchange rate against the U.S. dollar was 7.2152, and the central parity rate of the RMB against the U.S. dollar was 7.1107, down 385 basis points from the previous trading day and hitting a new low since June 2, 2020.

Shortly after the announcement of the central bank that day, both the onshore and offshore renminbi against the US dollar regained the 7.24 mark, with the offshore renminbi rising by more than 300 points at one point.

Data Sources:

The National Foreign Exchange Market Self-Regulation Mechanism Video Conference was held on September 27. Liu Guoqiang, Deputy Governor of the People's Bank of China and Chairman of the China Foreign Exchange Market Steering Committee (CFXC), attended and delivered a speech.

The meeting pointed out that since the beginning of this year, the RMB exchange rate has remained basically stable at a reasonable and balanced level, and the CFETS RMB exchange rate index has remained basically the same as at the end of 2021.

The exchange rate of the RMB against the US dollar has depreciated, but the depreciation rate is only half of the appreciation rate of the US dollar in the same period.

The meeting emphasized that the foreign exchange market is of great importance, and maintaining stability is the first priority. The RMB exchange rate remains basically stable and has a solid foundation. Compared with many economies facing the risk of stagflation, my country's economy continues to recover and develop. The price level is basically stable, and the trade surplus is expected to remain high. solid.

The current foreign exchange market operation is generally standardized and orderly, but there are also phenomena such as a few companies following the trend to "speculate foreign exchange" and financial institutions operating in violation of regulations, and guidance and corrections should be strengthened. It must be recognized that the point of the exchange rate is unpredictable, and two-way floating is the norm. Do not bet on the unilateral appreciation or depreciation of the RMB exchange rate.