Retail & Ecommerce

Open banking has propelled the growth of alternative credit, but the model isn’t risk-free

This could make it harder for riskier consumers to get approved for credit cards in the future

The approval is a potential sign of thawing geopolitical tensions; Mastercard was approved after a summit between Xi and Biden

Cyber Monday will top $13 billion in US online sales, while Black Friday will crack $10 billion for the first time, according to our June 2023 forecast.

The parcel industry is ready for the holiday surge: Carriers like the US Postal Service, FedEx, and UPS should have more than enough capacity to handle the holiday peak.

Shein and Temu have a long way to go before they can truly threaten Amazon: While their aggressive ad strategies are successfully driving site visits, conversions are proving more elusive.

Roughly one in seven self-checkout users has purposely shoplifted: Rampant theft is causing Target, Walmart, and others to rethink their uses of the technology.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss whether Humane's new AI pin is about to become as ubiquitous as the smartphone, just how much ground brick-and-mortar retail will give to online shopping, the next big social media app, if folks will start shopping on Amazon right from their Facebook and Instagram feeds, how news consumption on social media is changing, which airlines carry the most passengers, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our vice president of content Suzy Davidkhanian and analysts Max Willens and Yory Wurmser.

The arrangement cuts Android app store fees and stokes regulatory scrutiny over selective, anticompetitive practices. Intensifying regulation and developer fallout could follow.

As Gen Zers grow up and their purchasing power expands, they’re redefining the relationship between brand and consumer, expecting brands to be community-focused, authentic, and culturally relevant.

TikTok's marketing influence grows: The platform is becoming pivotal in holiday campaigns and consumer engagement.

Turning around Kohl’s fortunes won’t be easy: The retailer is the latest department store to struggle to convince middle-class consumers to spend.

Best Buy trims its sales outlook as demand cools: The retailer expects holiday shoppers will be hungry for bargains.

Lowe’s cuts outlook as difficult housing market, slumping DIY demand hurt sales: The home improvement retailer became the latest to call out shoppers’ price consciousness as they shy away from big-ticket purchases.

Abercrombie and American Eagle beat Q3 expectations as Gen Z, millennials keep spending: Both retailers credited strong demand and tight inventory controls for their growth.

Retailers that implement return fees are losing sales and customers: One-third have lost customers after charging for returns, underscoring the need for a more nuanced approach.

Objections mount to counter major changes in Big Tech’s market dominance. A win by the EU could result in global ramifications for tech giants.

Marketers may be obsessed with reaching younger consumers, but that doesn’t mean that baby boomers aren’t worth their time. Next year, 11.3 million consumers ages 55 to 64 and 10.8 million consumers 65 and older will make a purchase via social media, per our forecast.

Amex can capture a lot of volume and attract new users during the holiday season