Hasbro and Mattel smell opportunity despite category headwinds: Both companies expect performance to improve in the second half of the year, driven by kidult demand and their IPs.

Volatility in semiconductor stocks and Google’s meager Q2 ROI on AI triggered a $1 trillion tailspin. Upcoming Big Tech earnings can restore confidence or amplify AI anxiety.

Competition intensifies in a market that’s quickly diversifying to suit more use cases. Read online

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss this years Prime Day. Was Amazon's ad platform breaking on the day a big deal, how other retailers event day behavior is changing, and how the shopping holiday is impacting the back-to-school season. Listen to the conversation with our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analysts Sarah Marzano and Zak Stambor.

50% of US shoppers use retail apps to get the best prices, according to a May 2024 SPAR Group report.

Google put a lid on its cookie deprecation plans on Monday, proposing that rather than deprecate third-party cookies, it would prompt Chrome users to “make an informed choice” on how they share their data with advertisers, according to a blog post from Anthony Chavez, vice president of Google’s Privacy Sandbox.

Impressive Q2 results for Alphabet: Google's search and YouTube ad revenues fuel substantial growth, highlighting the company's strategic focus on high-growth areas.

Office furniture demand grows as RTO pushes gain intensity: The increase in “office busyness” is also benefiting surrounding restaurants and retailers.

Saks makes San Francisco store appointment-only as part of focus on luxury consumers: While the move will make it harder for shoppers to wander in, it could deter theft and reduce operating costs.

ViX subscriptions offset TelevisaUnivision’s linear drop off: The Spanish-language media company expects its streaming service to post a profit this year.

EV sales growth slowed significantly in the first half of the year: Many consumers remain skeptical about the technology, driving Tesla, GM, and Ford to shift gears.

Microsoft, Meta, and AWS work together to break Google’s stranglehold on mapping services by developing open map data sets for general availability

Retail foot traffic is bouncing back, especially in malls, thanks to diverse tenant mixes and engaging experiences that attract shoppers, Ethan Chernofsky, senior vice president of marketing at Placer.ai, said during a recent EMARKETER webinar. The pandemic’s lasting influence has also changed how we shop, with more people visiting multiple grocery stores for the best deals and quality, while small-format stores are helping retailers meet local needs.

Best Buy looks to distinguish itself from the competition: The struggling retailer refreshes its online and offline presences to turn around its two-year slump.

TikTok and Meta waver under EU, UK regulations: A stricter regulatory landscape has piled fines and investigations onto the platforms.

Netflix viewership grows thanks to hit show ‘Bridgerton’: While Netflix is seeing gains, it still falls behind NBCU, YouTube, and Disney.

YouTube's growth continues: Ad revenues rise, Shorts’ outlook improves, and AI tools expand despite challenges from competition and ad blockers.

Its new AI model, Llama 3.1, uses open-source development, multilingual conversations, and availability on popular apps like Instagram and WhatsApp to entice user adoption.

Google’s Q2 profit climbed 29% to $23.6 billion, driven by search and AI cloud services as anticipation for AI products grows.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss how organic social is having a resurgence, what brands are building communities around, and how brands are embracing ad-free features like the comments section and direct messaging. "In Other News," we talk why the ad market still feels so bleak and what X can do to turn the ship around. Tune in to the discussion with our director of Briefings Jeremy Goldman.