Kohl’s to open Amazon shops inside some department stores

Kohl’s said Wednesday that it will open Amazon shops in 10 of its stores, making it the latest department store operator to make a deal with the e-commerce giant.

Kohl’s shoppers will be able to buy Amazon Echos, Fire tablets and other gadgets from the 1,000-square-foot Amazon shops. Customers can also ask to have an Amazon employee come to their home and install a device or suggest products to buy.

Kohl’s Corp. said the Amazon shops will open next month in Chicago and Los Angeles stores. The Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based company has more than 1,100 locations across the country.

United States trade deficit widens in July as exports slip

The U.S. trade deficit increased slightly in July as exports slipped a bit more than imports.

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that the trade gap reached $43.7 billion in July, up from $43.5 billion in June. Exports declined $600 million to $194.4 billion, while imports slid $400 million to $238.1 billion.

The trade deficit had narrowed in the spring as exports of U.S. computer products and farm goods rose. U.S. exporters benefited from a decline in the value of the dollar, which makes American products cheaper overseas.

The House voted Wednesday to speed the introduction of self-driving cars by giving the federal government authority to exempt automakers from safety standards not applicable to the technology, and to permit deployment of up to 100,000 of the vehicles annually over the next several years.

The bill was passed by a voice vote. State and local officials have said it usurps their authority by giving to the federal government sole authority to regulate the vehicles’ design and performance. States would still decide whether to permit self-driving cars. at comics .azcentral.com