Consumer Trends


  • Two shoppers leave a Best Buy store.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Electronic sales rebound during Black Friday, Cyber Monday period

    After eight straight quarters of revenue declines in the sector, spending grew 3.5% during the two weeks ending Dec. 7, according to Circana analysis.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 20, 2024
  • Person shops online with a Christmas tree in the background.
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    NoSystem images via Getty Images
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    Nearly half of Gen Z shoppers to buy holiday gifts from Chinese marketplaces

    Though U.S. shoppers are slow to trust it, Temu has become the top Chinese e-commerce platform, surpassing competitors like Shein and TikTok Shop, an Omnisend survey found.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 19, 2024
  • 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
  • Mall setting with shoppers walking
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    Emily Elconin via Getty Images
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    Nearly half of consumers feel ignored by marketers: Here’s what the numbers say

    Among consumers who feel ignored, 75% would rather support brands that align with their values, iHeartMedia’s research found.

    By Sara Karlovitch • Dec. 18, 2024
  • An entrance at the Christiana Mall in Delaware in 2024
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    Nate Delesline III/Retail Dive
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    Over 157M expected to shop in stores, online on Super Saturday

    According to the NRF, half of those with shopping to finish will do so online, while 37% will head to department stores.

    By Dec. 17, 2024
  • Taylor Swift book promotion for Target.
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    Courtesy of Target
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    5 retailers that need a great 2024 holiday season

    Some companies are coming off a tough quarter, while others switched leadership or are dealing with changing consumer behavior. But all of these retailers need a W. 

    By Dec. 17, 2024
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    Courtesy of Perfect Corp.
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    Over half of holiday shoppers already use or plan to use AI

    According to Perfect Corp., which offers AI and AR solutions to retailers, consumers are looking for personalized experiences.

    By Dec. 12, 2024
  • A customer prepares a box for a return
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    Anna Gorbacheva via Getty Images
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    Shoppers projected to return $890B in merchandise this year

    According to an estimate by the National Retail Federation, returns will amount to 16.9% of retailers’ annual sales in 2024.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 12, 2024
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    Courtesy of Target
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    Walmart’s Bettergoods, Target’s Dealworthy are fastest-growing private labels

    A recent Numerator report found that both brands, which launched earlier this year, have already reached a notable number of households.

    By Howard Ruben • Dec. 11, 2024
  • A Simon Mall during the holiday season in Arlington, Virginia.
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    Kaarin Moore/Retail Dive
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    Black Friday weekend shopping traffic exceeds NRF predictions

    More consumers made purchases during the period than anticipated, and both stores and mobile shopping saw gains year over year.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 5, 2024
  • A Simon Mall during the holiday season in Arlington, Virginia.
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    Kaarin Moore/Retail Dive
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    Simon sees traffic bump during Black Friday weekend

    The mall company has bucked the trend of declining in-store traffic during the industry’s busiest shopping period.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 3, 2024
  • Person sits on a couch shopping on an iPad next to a Christmas tree.
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    Anchiy via Getty Images
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    Nearly 75% of baby boomers plan to use pay-later services this holiday season

    Consumers in that generation are often on fixed incomes and mindful of avoiding high-interest credit card debt, according to Splitit CEO Nandan Sheth.

    By Howard Ruben • Dec. 3, 2024
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    iStock.com

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    Sponsored by Marigold

    The critical role of loyalty programs during the holiday shopping season

    Unlock holiday success with loyalty programs that deliver value, insights and lasting connections.

    By Roger Willams, Director of Loyalty Center of Excellence at Marigold • Dec. 2, 2024
  • A person in an apparel store can be seen through a Black Friday sign in a store window.
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    Kena Betancur via Getty Images
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    Winners and losers of Black Friday 2024

    With deals all spread out and e-commerce surging even on Thanksgiving Day, the red-letter event seems to be losing its punch.

    By Nov. 30, 2024
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    Kendall Davis/Retail Dive
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    Podcast

    The Backroom: Amazon Haul and the state of retail

    Join Retail Dive Senior Reporter Daphne Howland and Rick Watson, founder and CEO of RMW Commerce, as they unpack recent retail stories including Amazon’s answer to Temu, Walmart’s progress and Target’s struggles.

    By Retail Dive Staff • Nov. 28, 2024
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    misuma via Getty Images
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    Nearly 30% of shoppers will purchase beauty as a holiday gift

    Headed into the season prestige beauty sales are up, with Gen Alpha contributing to growth in the segment. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 20, 2024
  • Mall setting with shoppers walking
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    Emily Elconin via Getty Images
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    Consumers plan to spend $125B over Thanksgiving weekend

    That’s about $5 billion less than shoppers spent during the five-day period in 2023, according to a recent survey from ICSC.

    By Howard Ruben • Nov. 20, 2024
  • A shopper with a handheld basket broweses a display of holiday items at Target.
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    Permission granted by Target
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    It’s a shorter holiday season. Does that matter?

    There are five fewer days between Black Friday and Christmas Day compared to 2023. Here’s how retailers — and consumers — are preparing themselves.

    By Nov. 19, 2024
  • A person sits in front of a computer online shopping while a Christmas lights are in the background.
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    Anchiy via Getty Images
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    Retailers confront trust issues as generative AI becomes commonplace

    Generative AI can win over reluctant shoppers by offering personalization or help with finding deals, experts say.

    By Bryan Wassel • Nov. 18, 2024
  • Person sits on an oversized chair with a computer and a Christmas tree, presents and Santa hat in the background.
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    Ivan Pantic via Getty Images
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    US holiday retail sales to reach $1 trillion

    About a quarter of those sales will occur online this year, a Forrester report predicts.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 14, 2024
  • Person sits on a couch shopping on an iPad next to a Christmas tree.
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    Anchiy via Getty Images
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    Holiday sales growth expected to stay below 10-year average

    Retailers are likely to lean on discounts to drive sales as consumers continue feeling the pressure of inflation, according to an S&P Global Ratings report.

    By Nov. 14, 2024
  • ‘Contradictions and mixed signals’ in the economy won’t affect holiday sales growth: NRF

    The trade organization is maintaining its holiday forecast for the year, stating that households are in decent financial shape. 

    By Nov. 11, 2024
  • A Guitar Center signage hangs outside a storefront against a blue sky backdrop
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    The image by JeepersMedia is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    CEOs say personalization is the key to success in music retail

    The leaders of two of America’s top musical instrument retailers, Guitar Center and Sweetwater, say guiding customers through product discovery is key to sustaining sales momentum.

    By Nov. 11, 2024
  • A person's hand holding a phone and on the screen is an image of a shopping cart with a banner above that says "BUY NOW PAY LATER!A
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    Creative via Getty Images
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    67% of parents will use BNPL to finance the holidays

    Parents are using pay later plans to justify large purchases and better manage their finances, according to a new survey. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 8, 2024
  • Locked up merchandise at a grocery store.
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    Edwin Lopez/Retail Dive
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    27% of shoppers will switch retailers, abandon purchase if they come across locked-up products: report

    More than half of consumers report seeing more merchandise locked up in stores in the past year, according to a recent survey from Numerator.

    By Howard Ruben • Nov. 6, 2024
  • Donald Trump was elected on Tuesday to a second term as president.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    As Trump rises again, so too might inflation

    Some retailers could get hit hard by policies promised by the president-elect, especially tariffs and taxes, though tax breaks may be a tailwind.

    By Nov. 6, 2024