Retail & Ecommerce

Data security is the most important feature to adults worldwide when deciding whether to transact with a business online, according to TransUnion. An easy payment process is the second most important, followed by ease of login or authentication.

Lower-income consumers are feeling pinched: That’s a troubling sign for value-oriented retailers such as Dollar Tree, Burlington Stores, and Big Lots.

Consumer sentiment isn’t in line with spending: Consumer spending surged in April despite people feeling glum about persistent inflation and the broader economic outlook.

Consumers stay loyal to grocers—but not brands—as they grapple with inflation: Forty-six percent of US shoppers won’t change where they buy groceries to save money.

We expect US cosmetic and beauty sales to grow 7.6%: While consumers are spending more selectively, they’re still willing to splurge on their favorite items.

The app’s expanding product suite could appeal to this group. But they won’t be an easy sell, and Block risks becoming over-reliant on Cash App.

The BNPL provider added a credit opt-out feature to help prevent consumers from going further into debt

The European payments fintech hopes to appeal to businesses increasingly looking for unified commerce tools

Modern card issuers are turbocharging the issuer processor space by offering API-based, customizable card solutions for non-financial services companies. Mobile payment services, ecommerce marketplaces, and the gig economy are in their sights—along with $17.12 billion in issuer processing revenues.

Financial stress rises as high inflation, market volatility weigh on consumer confidence: Fifty-eight percent of US households are living paycheck to paycheck, including almost one-third of affluent households.

Target offers a year-long return policy for its private labels: That’s a very different approach from most retailers, which have made steps to clamp down on returns.

Internet use is growing the fastest in the Middle East and Africa, where about 80 million more people will go online at least once per month between 2023 and 2027, according to our forecast. Roughly 60% of the global population will use the internet regularly.

Walmart Connect looks to attract more self-service advertisers: Adding new creative partners to bolster self-service campaigns should help it attract more small- and medium-sized businesses to its platform. (This article was written with the assistance of ChatGPT.)

Retail media’s rise in popularity is being boosted by increasing ecommerce sales, a wide variety of ad formats, and established retailer-brand relationships. But an increasingly crowded space may have advertisers feeling overwhelmed, which could put a bit of strain on retail media’s growth.

The 15 biggest US ecommerce players aren’t a surprise (here’s looking at you, Amazon, Walmart, and Apple). User-friendly mobile apps, quick delivery, innovation, and converting sales are what turn retailers into ecommerce powerhouses. Here are the companies our analysts believe best exemplify those features within the 15 largest ecommerce players.