Square news and archive

UK retail industry adapts to changing consumer trends and inflation

The retail industry in the UK has shown resilience in the face of inflation and changing consumer behaviors, with first-quarter growth reported based on data from Square and Clearpay. The pace of growth has moderated, however, when compared to the significant increase observed in 2022 as the pandemic receded. While the Office for Budget...

RetailFeatured

Square's Forward program awards funding to 25 Black and Latino small businesses

Forward, the accelerator program by Square to support early-stage Black and Latino small businesses in the retail sector, received over a thousand applicants by its April 1st deadline. The majority were women-owned businesses. The inaugural program was launched in partnership with 1863 Ventures, American Express, and Social Change Fund United,...

BusinessFeatured

Payments giant Square to acquire ‘buy now, pay later’ provider Afterpay

Digital payments giant Square is to acquire Australian ‘buy now, pay later’ provider Afterpay as the instalment lending market continues to heat up. The 29 billion US dollar (39 billion AU dollar) deal is Square’s biggest acquisition to date and is expected to be paid all in stock. The acquisition will see Afterpay integrated into Square’s...