One-third of US adults say prices are noticeably higher on certain products due to tariffs or shipping/import changes, according to a July survey from Omnisend and Cint.
Reddit’s Q3 earnings confirmed what advertisers have suspected: the platform’s community-driven ad model can scale profitably. Revenue jumped 68% to $585 million, crushing Wall Street estimates, while EPS of $0.80 easily beat forecasts. Global daily actives climbed 19% to 116 million, though US user growth slowed to 7%, down from 12% last quarter. Data licensing revenue rose 7% as Reddit continues to defend its content from unauthorized AI scraping—a fight central to its long-term strategy. For advertisers, Reddit’s results underscore its strength as a high-intent, performance-focused channel—even as slower domestic user growth raises questions about future expansion.
Retail is on the brink of a digital sea change as agentic commerce slowly makes its way onto consumer-facing platforms.
We expect US holiday sales to rise 3.6% in the final two months of the year, a slowdown from last year’s 4.4% gain, but much stronger than our May outlook, when we anticipated just 1.2% growth. The shift stems from consumers’ surprising resilience despite tariffs, inflation, and a softening labor market. Major retailers like Walmart and Amazon have reported steady demand, with tariffs adding only modest price pressures. However, spending remains uneven across income groups as higher earners benefit from wage and wealth gains. Retailers will need to emphasize affordability and value to attract cautious middle- and lower-income shoppers this season.
Walmart unveiled a series of AI-powered tools for its app to help customers with their holiday shopping. The new features, which include an in-store savings function and AI-generated audio summaries, are meant to make Walmart’s app more useful for in-store shoppers and to simplify discovery and purchasing for customers who prefer to transact online. Retailers should follow Walmart’s lead and use AI to make it easier for customers to surface deals and quickly find what they’re looking for, whether in-store or online.
Mastercard is reportedly nearing a deal to acquire Zerohash for as much as $2 billion, per Fortune. Zerohash provides infrastructure to connect fiat payment systems with crypto and stablecoins. We can expect Visa to pursue a big crypto acquisition in short order. Whether they see it as an existential threat or not, networks are waking up to the fact that crypto is here to stay—and they need to prove to investors and stakeholders that they’re taking it seriously.
Ascend Federal Credit Union launched a debit card-linked installment offering through a partnership with equipifi, per a press release. It’s difficult for credit unions like Ascend to compete with the top issuers on credit card programs. They lack the necessary funds and resources to launch expansive credit card rewards offerings. But they have a better chance of competing for customers’ business when it comes to debit cards. Offering perks like card-linked installments can set their programs apart and draw in customers who are looking for more flexible financing options without applying for a new credit card.
Southwest Airlines rolled out a rewards debit card, per a press release. The Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Debit Card runs on Visa’s network and is issued by Sunrise Bank in partnership with SoFi-owned Galileo’s card issuing platform. Offering a debit card helps Southwest tie customers closer to its loyalty program. But getting consumers to sign up may be a tough sell. Consumers who don’t have the credit scores or means to pay for a Southwest credit card may balk at parking $2,500 a checking account.
Kroger and Uber are joining forces to expand their audiences and attract more incremental spending. Kroger customers will be able to order restaurant delivery—fulfilled by Uber—from the grocer’s website and app. Starting next year, Uber Eats users will be able to order groceries from Kroger’s 2,600-plus stores. Partnering with third-party delivery platforms offers pure-play grocers such as Kroger an opportunity to level the playing field with mass competitors like Walmart and Amazon. Deals like the one between Kroger and Uber will likely become more common as retailers look to reach high-intent shoppers and delivery platforms race to keep their competitors at bay.
58% of retail professionals strongly agree that sharing customer location data with partners positively impacts revenue, according to a June Retail Systems Research (RSR) survey.
Successful retail execution requires making products more available, visible, and relevant to shoppers; it's a challenge that's grown increasingly complex in today's retail environment. For many retailers, leveraging image recognition technology has transformed how they approach in-store execution and display compliance.
Western Union will launch a stablecoin to power crypto remittances in the first half of 2026, per a press release. The stablecoin will be called the U.S. Dollar Payment Token (USDPT) and will run on Solana’s Bitcoin infrastructure. As more remittance players pivot toward crypto, they face a bind of a customer base that is more likely to trust in-store cash transactions than novel digital methods, which makes a strong retail presence necessary for success. Targeted advertising campaigns educating remittance senders about the benefits of digital transfers with incentives for new customers could help convert more users to crypto.
Target’s plan to win holiday sales relies heavily on in-store activations and a steady stream of deals throughout the last two months of the year. All of Target’s nearly 2,000 stores will be transformed into “nostalgic Alpine villages,” complete with festive décor and weekend events throughout the season. The retailer will also offer weeklong deals and host an earlier Black Friday sale to accommodate consumers' price sensitivities. Target is hoping that an emphasis on joy and whimsy—and discounts—will help it recapture some much-needed spending.
Amazon is continuing to see success with its maturing ad offerings. Q3 advertising services reached $17.7 billion, up 24% YoY, while net sales increased 13% to $180.2 billion. Q4 guidance points to continued confidence, with Amazon expecting growth between 10% and 13% YoY. Amazon’s ad success indicates that it will continue to be a promising opportunity for marketers that offers a unique proposition combining data-driven targeting, commerce integration, innovative ad formats, and the ability to reach consumers both onsite and offsite.
Visa and Mastercard reported strong growth in their most recent earnings. Visa’s net revenues increased 12% YoY in its Q4 2025, per its earnings release. Mastercard’s net revenues grew 17% YoY in Q3, per its earnings release. Lower-income consumers are more sensitive to tariff-induced inflation and other economic events. If lower- and medium-tier cardholders pull back on spending, their premium counterparts who are more insulated from economic pain can keep spending afloat. Issuers are following the same strategy: Citi, Chase, and American Express all launched or revamped premium cards this year.
Amazon beat expectations in Q3, helped by an extended Prime Day sale, expanded rural access to same- and next-day delivery, and healthy cloud and advertising growth. The company's AI investments are taking center stage as the company looks to improve efficiency, boost engagement, and keep third-party AI agents at bay. From a retail standpoint, Amazon is on firm footing. The retailer’s ability to offer unparalleled convenience, wide selection, and Prime membership perks are enabling it to gain share in an uncertain environment.
The global beer industry is confronting a sharp downturn as leading brewers like AB InBev, Heineken, and Carlsberg report falling volumes amid inflation, changing tastes, and growing alcohol moderation. With US beer production down and more breweries closing than opening for the first time in 20 years, consumers are shifting toward cheaper brands or alternatives like canned cocktails and THC drinks. AB InBev’s response—a $6 billion buyback, expanded no-alcohol lineup, and investment in premium RTDs—signals a broader industry pivot toward diversification and reinvention under mounting pressure.
Sprouts Farmers Market projects flat to 2% same-store sales growth in Q4, signaling a sharp slowdown after strong midyear gains as consumer spending cools. Q3 results missed expectations, with 5.9% growth versus forecasts of 7.4%. In response, Sprouts is emphasizing value through expanded private labels, unique product innovation, and affordable prepared foods, while leveraging its new loyalty program to drive repeat visits. Despite broader retail pressure and cautious shoppers, Sprouts remains optimistic—opening more stores than planned and leaning on its differentiated, health-focused positioning to sustain long-term momentum amid an industry-wide pullback.
Estée Lauder topped analysts’ profit and revenue expectations, aided by sales and market share gains in China and customer growth in the US. The parent of brands such as Clinique, Tom Ford, and Aveda said its results marked the start of its return to growth under a turnaround plan. Estée Lauder’s stronger-than-expected quarter shows that accessible pricing and product innovation is essential to growth in beauty, especially as competition continues to intensify. Gap Inc., for instance, is launching Old Navy Beauty, a youth-focused line of body mists and scents. Its move shows that even apparel retailers are muscling into beauty to lure Gen Z consumers, providing new pressure on established beauty brands.
Most video game players treasure the end of the year, both to splurge on their favorite hobby and to spend more time in-game.