Consumer Trends
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Mass-market beauty sales growth exceeds prestige in Q1
It’s the first time in several years that mass brands have outpaced prestige, though the softening for high-end beauty brands corrected itself in March.
By Tatiana Walk-Morris • May 27, 2025 -
Home Depot doesn’t plan to raise prices despite tariffs
The announcement came as the home improvement retailer posted a 9.4% sales gain in Q1 and reaffirmed its full-year guidance.
By Caroline Jansen • May 20, 2025 -
Trendline
The state of small business
Disruptions from the pandemic, e-commerce and broader economic trends continue to bedevil operations for small businesses.
By Retail Dive staff -
Inflation expected to surge to 7.3% in a year, fueled by tariff worry
Consumer sentiment has slumped this year even as recent “hard data” reveal stable prices and robust hiring.
By Jim Tyson • May 19, 2025 -
Why retail’s e-commerce disruption era is over
Brick-and-mortar stores drive the vast majority of core retail sales, and that won’t change any time soon, according to a report from commercial real estate firm Colliers.
By Daphne Howland • May 12, 2025 -
Consumers waffle over using social, generative AI to shop
Customers may not be comfortable with advanced shopping tech and allowing AI to analyze their personal data, according to a KPMG report.
By Xanayra Marin-Lopez • April 30, 2025 -
Online retailers in the US spent an average of $400k on AI last year
Despite aiming that investment at customer experience, 30% of executives told Storyblok that the tech only slightly improved the shopper’s experience.
By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 29, 2025 -
Consumer expectations plunge at fastest pace since 1990 recession
“Some measures of expectations on both the business and consumer fronts look outright recessionary,” Goldman Sachs Chief Economist Jan Hatzius said.
By Jim Tyson • April 28, 2025 -
Deep Dive
Retail’s latest tariff challenge? Setting prices.
New levies are shaping up to be a holiday tax on consumers already touchy about spending. Careful analysis and clear communication are key.
By Daphne Howland • April 28, 2025 -
Column
The Weekly Closeout: Coty to cut 700 jobs, Adidas sports double-digit growth
The cutbacks are part of the beauty conglomerate’s strategic transformation, while preliminary Q1 results show momentum from the sports retailer.
By Retail Dive Staff • April 25, 2025 -
Podcast
The Backroom: Talking tariffs with Supply Chain Dive
Trade policy is ever-evolving, and hitting the retail industry especially hard. Phil Neuffer, senior editor at our sister publication, talks about covering the issue and where things stand today.
By Retail Dive Staff • April 24, 2025 -
Most consumers will pay 25% more for their favorite brands
Positive customer experiences, consistent product quality and long-term brand familiarity drive greater loyalty, a UserTesting study found.
By Michael Brady • April 23, 2025 -
Men’s Wearhouse expands ‘Made in USA’ program
The “American Bespoke” collection was designed in partnership with Joseph Abboud and produced in the company’s Massachusetts factory.
By Howard Ruben • April 21, 2025 -
Billions of pretax healthcare funds go to waste each year. Retailers want to cash in.
Some Americans lack an understanding of what products might be eligible FSA or HSA purchases, leaving money on the table for beauty retailers and period-care brands.
By Dani James • April 21, 2025 -
Trade war puts US on ‘precipice’ of recession: Moody’s chief economist
The U.S. economy will likely begin to shrink “unless policy takes a very sharp turn here pretty quickly,” Moody’s Chief Economist Mark Zandi said.
By Jim Tyson • April 18, 2025 -
Trade war set to impact electronics, other discretionary products hardest
Small and medium-sized brands are poised to bear the negative brunt of increased tariffs on imports to the U.S., according to a new PitchBook report.
By Dani James • April 16, 2025 -
How retailers are connecting with younger shoppers
From Sephora embracing its status as a Gen Alpha “playground” to Coach’s Gen Z-focused store concept, retailers are leaning in.
By Cara Salpini • April 16, 2025 -
Moody’s downgrades retail’s outlook on ‘bleak’ prospects amid trade war
Apparel and footwear are especially vulnerable and off-price less so, though the impact of tariffs is industrywide, Moody’s Ratings analysts said Monday.
By Daphne Howland • April 15, 2025 -
As beauty continues to grow, TikTok Shop and Amazon will gain share
That comes at the expense of drugstores, department stores, mass merchandisers and even specialty beauty retailers, per TD Cowen.
By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 15, 2025 -
Nike is still winning the teen market
The athletics brand ranked top for apparel and footwear, while beauty spending reached its highest ever, according to Piper Sandler's latest report.
By Xanayra Marin-Lopez • April 14, 2025 -
Trump excludes some electronics from reciprocal tariffs
Smartphones and electronic integrated circuits now qualify for the “semiconductor” exemption, but officials say sector-specific duties are coming.
By Edwin Lopez • April 14, 2025 -
Consumer sentiment plummets, inflation expectations soar amid trade war
“There’s been a sharp decline in consumer sentiment, and business sentiment measures have weakened too,” New York Federal Reserve Bank President John Williams said.
By Jim Tyson • April 14, 2025 -
Tariffs are the latest test of beleaguered US consumers
Before the expansive levies were announced, spending power was already weakened by high prices and rising debt, among other forces, analysts say.
By Daphne Howland • April 8, 2025 -
Deep Dive
The enduring appeal of pens and paper in a digital era
Analog forms of communication are far from dead. U.S. indie brands are capitalizing on a dedicated customer base that has had to look abroad for special stationery goods.
By Dani James • April 7, 2025 -
Column
The Weekly Closeout: Hudson’s Bay hunts for a buyer and tariffs hit apparel hard
The department store is soliciting offers for part or all of its business. Meanwhile, one analyst said new tariffs put “all 2025 guidance at risk.”
By Retail Dive Staff • April 4, 2025 -
Deep Dive
Fashion industry reacts to sweeping tariff changes
Experts say the new policies are likely to raise prices and weaken consumer confidence, and are unlikely to bring U.S. manufacturing back.
By Lara Ewen • April 4, 2025