The trend: Consumers pay broadly different prices for the same healthcare procedures across the US, with the highest average negotiated rate more than 9 times the lowest average rate in a recent assessment by Trilliant Health. Our take: Consumers want to be able to compare healthcare costs, but it’s still unclear how forceful the federal government is going to be in mandating true transparency—and if consumers truly grasp the publicly posted prices for medical services. We expect hospitals will continue to push back on any new regulations, while insurers will keep information on negotiated rates behind closed doors, thus perpetuating price disparities and not arming consumers with actionable insights that will lower their healthcare costs.

Labubu is well on its way to being a $1 billion business for maker Pop Mart. The retailer’s Monsters IP, which includes Labubu, generated RMB 4.81 billion ($671 million) in the first half of 2025, a staggering 668% increase YoY. While the history of toy fads suggests that the Labubu craze will soon fade, it could be extremely lucrative in the short term—and not just for Pop Mart. Although the retailer is fiercely protective of its IP, plenty of brands and retailers would be happy to benefit from a temporary Labubu bump.

The news: Meta will spend more than $10 billion on Google Cloud over six years, making it one of Google’s largest-ever contracts, per CNBC. Despite running its own data centers and using Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, Meta’s growth requires additional cloud capacity. The deal demonstrates how even fierce ad rivals can align when AI demands massive computing scale. Our take: When it comes to AI, the old rules of competition no longer apply. Cloud rivals are forced into uneasy alliances to remain competitive as infrastructure demand explodes. For AWS and Azure, keeping pace with Google Cloud means doubling down on custom silicon, broadening AI partnerships, and proving they can deliver the scale and neutrality that Google is now signaling to the market.

The news: 46% of US adults check their phones between 10 and 50 times per day, per a YouGov survey, presenting brands with a strong opportunity to create sticky, habit-forming mobile experiences. Sixty-four percent of survey respondents have at least one paid mobile app subscription, showing that consumers are willing to pay if apps provide solutions to users’ needs. Our take: B2C marketers looking to drive subscriptions or paid features need to ensure apps deliver immediate, ongoing value that users will turn to daily. For apps that can’t hit the bar of essential utility, a freemium or ad-supported model can offer more realistic monetization paths.

Earlier this month, for the second time in seven years, Claire’s filed for bankruptcy. The retailer will avoid complete collapse by selling most of its North American business to private equity firm Ames Watson, but its ongoing struggles serve as a cautionary tale. Marketing tactics alone cannot keep a brand afloat without a cohesive strategy—one that unites product, customer experience, and cultural relevance.

The insight: Retail buyers are leaning on AI and earlier ordering to prepare for a highly uncertain holiday season, according to a new survey by Deloitte. Our take: Suppliers have done what they can to ensure shelves are stocked this holiday season. But that may not be enough to tempt wary shoppers: We expect holiday sales growth to decelerate sharply to 1.2% this year as tariffs test buying behaviors and weigh on confidence.

The news: FundCanna launched B2B buy now, pay later (BNPL) platform ReadyPaid to address the cannabis industry’s endemic cash-flow problem. Our take: Alternative financing pairing well with an alternative industry comes as no shock. If cannabis is finally descheduled by the federal government—or at least reclassified, as President Donald Trump has considered—ReadyPaid will have a harder time competing against traditional banks that likely will openly service weed-related business without regulatory threats.