Retail & Ecommerce

Dollar General says shrink will remain ‘significant headwind’ into 2024: But retail theft may not be as big a problem as retailers say, as the NRF walks back its claims around organized retail crime.

US ecommerce sales will grow 9.3% to reach $1.137 trillion in 2023, per our forecast, thanks to cost-conscious consumers looking for better deals and an increasing number of digital grocery buyers. As 2023 wraps up, ecommerce will go out on a high note, with online holiday sales growth outpacing brick-and-mortar sales.

Amazon to shutter Amazon Ad Server by 2024, focusing on growing other ad services: Reflects a strategic shift towards more promising advertising technologies.

Adyen wants to grow its global acquiring business to reaccelerate growth after a slowdown

Using overdrafts like BNPL to extend their purchasing power may lead to financial hardship

The digital wallet rollout will disrupt the industry as its innovative features reset consumer expectations

Key stat: 31.5% of US shoppers who discovered an item in-store purchased it right away, per an Insider Intelligence survey.

On today's podcast episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss how the Thanksgiving numbers look, why folks are online shopping more this season, and where the ecommerce ceiling is. Then for "Red-Hot Retail," our analysts give us four spicy predictions about the remaining few weeks of holiday shopping. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts director of Briefings Jeremy Goldman and analyst Zak Stambor.

Prada sees an opportunity to double its business in China: The luxury brand’s bullishness is being echoed by LVMH, Chanel, and Zegna.

Amazon is officially fighting back against Shein, Temu: The retailer will lower seller fees on cheap apparel next year as it tries to assert its ecommerce dominance.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss whether Uber's business is actually sustainable, how many Americans use ride-hailing apps, and what the ad opportunity is. "In Other News," we talk about whether there will be more—or fewer—self-checkout options by the end of next year and whether the world is ready to accept humanoid robots used by Amazon. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Yory Wurmser.

From Goop and the New York Times to TikTok creators, everyone is putting out a gift guide this year, trying to get a piece of this year’s holiday sales pie, which we forecast to reach $1.31 trillion in the US.

The UK’s cost-of-living crisis is taking its toll on holiday spending: UK non-food sales grew just 2.7% YoY in November as discounts fail to convince consumers to spend.

Uber lets holiday shoppers pay for convenience: Its new “Store Pickup” feature lets consumers request a courier to pick up purchases from a store and deliver them to their doors.

The Ozempic effect could have wide-ranging implications beyond the food industry—if it exists: Apparel makers, beauty brands, and airlines could capitalize as GLP-1 adoption grows, but only if users stick to the meds.

Starbucks struggles without the PSL: Even the company’s banner Red Cup Day wasn’t enough to offset softening sales in November.

“Performance Max [campaigns] are more algorithmic in nature,” Menachem Ani, founder of online ad management company JXT Group, said during a recent Paid Search Association webinar. “Don’t force it to behave like a [traditional] campaign. My recommendation is to put in the work and make the most out of it.”

The service can strengthen merchant relationships and give the card network an opportunity to monetize its troves of valuable data

The demand for BNPL shows the financial inclusion benefits it can bring, but it also carries overspending risks