Consumer Trends
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Column
The Weekly Closeout: Authentic hires an Amazon vet, Dôen secures funding
Tim Derner joined the brand management firm as the global head of marketplaces, while the apparel brand closed on a Series A funding round.
By Retail Dive Staff • June 20, 2025 -
How Bob’s, Ikea are bucking the trend of furniture retail stagnation
The segment, which grew during the height of the pandemic, has been contracting. However, value players are opening locations — and poised to take market share.
By Shefali Kapadia • June 18, 2025 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Thai Liang Lim via Getty ImagesTrendlineHow retailers are deploying in-store technology
Payment systems, self-checkout stations and home visualization tech are just a few of the areas getting attention from retailers as they rethink the store experience.
By Retail Dive staff -
Nuuly is dominating the apparel rental market
The company has more than double the number of active subscribers as Rent the Runway, its next-largest U.S. apparel subscription competitor, according to Wells Fargo analysts.
By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 16, 2025 -
Column
The Weekly Closeout: Michaels rolls out Summerween and Shakira’s beauty brand debuts
The crafts retailer is releasing Halloween decor earlier than ever, while the pop star’s Isima line will launch at Ulta Beauty.
By Retail Dive Staff • June 13, 2025 -
Tree Hut gets a ‘grown-up’ sister brand
Bdy emphasizes high-quality, affordable products and uses skin care-inspired ingredients to address common concerns like dryness and uneven tone.
By Howard Ruben • June 13, 2025 -
For more consumers, back-to-school shopping starts now
Many parents consider this year to be “financially challenging” or “stressful,” in part due to price hikes, according to a survey.
By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 10, 2025 -
Lululemon to raise prices as progress stalls in the US
As the retailer plans modest tariff-induced price hikes, CEO Calvin McDonald said U.S. shoppers are growing more "discerning" than those in Canada.
By Cara Salpini • June 6, 2025 -
Column
The Weekly Closeout: Nike appoints innovation chief and retailers face cyberattacks
The athletics retailer filled in the role behind John Hoke, while Victoria’s Secret, Adidas and The North Face have recently reported security breaches.
By Retail Dive Staff • June 6, 2025 -
Adults boost US toy sales
Consumers are either paying more for pricier toys or opting for lower-cost products, but mid-tier options are feeling a pinch, according to a Circana report.
By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 5, 2025 -
Wealthier consumers flock to Dollar Tree in Q1
The discounter, which is better positioned against rival Dollar General without its Family Dollar unit, is expanding a multiprice strategy to more stores.
By Daphne Howland • June 4, 2025 -
Deep Dive
What went wrong at Target?
The mass merchant is looking to turn around falling sales and declining customer sentiment. But first, it needs to diagnose its own problems.
By Dani James • June 2, 2025 -
Ulta sees signs of improvement in Q1, but stays cautious
While beauty is generally recession-proof, executives said the category is not “immune to consumer pressure” and customers could pull back.
By Cara Salpini • May 30, 2025 -
Tariffs are likely to drive Prime Day purchases
Consumers are looking to stock up on essentials and other goods as fears of tariff-driven price increases loom, according to a recent Tinuiti survey.
By Howard Ruben • May 30, 2025 -
Podcast
The Backroom: Breaking down Dick’s Sporting Goods’ deal to acquire Foot Locker
The team discusses the implications of the surprise acquisition, how Dick’s is defending it and why the stakes could be different for each retailer.
By Retail Dive Staff • May 29, 2025 -
Consumer pessimism eases amid cooling in US-China tariff war
The share of consumers expecting a recession over the next 12 months fell in May, the Conference Board said.
By Jim Tyson • May 28, 2025 -
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 -
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