Americans keep on spending, UPS has self-driving trucks on the road, and more top news

The news professionals are talking about now, curated by LinkedIn’s editors. Join the conversation on today's stories in the comments. 

Macy’s is linking up with Google to use its Cloud platform in warehouses across the U.S. Through its data analytics, the platform will help the department-store chain manage online orders, merchandise and deliveries (including of bulkier items such as furniture) — one “of the key challenges” Macy's has been trying to solve, says CNBC. While the store reported lower second-quarter profit and has lowered its earnings outlook for the year, it has seen a rebound in online sales. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Speaking of retail, sales surged in July. ?Americans boosted spending at stores, restaurants and especially online last month, with sales rising 0.7% from June, according to the Commerce Department. E-commerce was likely driven by Amazon Prime Day sales. With consumer spending accounting for more than two-thirds of U.S. GDP, the report contrasted with signs of recession from the bond market amid the country's trade battle with China and slowing global growth. ? Here’s what people are saying.

UPS has self-driving trucks on the road: The company, which has used autonomous trucks to move cargo in Arizona since May, also announced an investment in trucking startup TuSimple. The trucks being tested — which currently employ a safety driver and on-board engineer — use TuSimple’s own self-driving technology. The autonomous driving firm had previously worked with the United States Postal Service to carry mail between distribution centers. UPS, hoping to beef up its own tech offerings, is also working on a drone delivery service. ? Here’s what people are saying. 

Cybersecurity staff at Capital One flagged concerns before the bank was hacked, reports The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources. The employees say they spoke to internal auditors, HR and other senior executives about high turnover in the cybersecurity unit and that hack-detecting software wasn’t promptly installed. Last month, Capital One revealed that personal information of 106 million people in the U.S. and Canada had been exposed in one of the worst-ever consumer hacks. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Maine: A mirror for the nation? As the state’s retirement population grows, Maine faces a “severe shortage of workers” — which means few will be around to care for its seniors, says The Washington Post. Demographics experts fear the trend will hit the rest of the nation in the coming decade, forcing us to "refashion" the workforce, especially in states with fewer immigrants. The number of U.S. seniors is expected to roughly double between 2015 and 2050, while the population older than 85 will nearly triple. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: Company culture shouldn’t be an afterthought — it’s something that requires constant care at every level, says Synchrony CEO Margaret Keane. It helps ensure every part of the business moves forward together.

“To unleash innovation and meaningful results, you need room to make bold decisions, test and learn from mistakes, and importantly have the support of your team.”

What's your take on today’s stories? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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