Consumer payment method choice will expand in 2025 as real-time “pay by bank,” iPhone NFC access, and digital credentials take center stage. And financial media networks will turn more payment providers into marketers.

Consumers spent a record-breaking $314.9 billion online globally during this year’s Cyber Five, according to Salesforce. But there’s lots more to learn beyond top-line sales numbers—from Target's Taylor Swift-fueled Black Friday surge to Gen Z's big spending habits. Here are five key stats on Cyber Five performance you may have missed and what they mean for the rest of the holiday season.

Walmart makes it easier for visually impaired shoppers to navigate stores: The retailer partnered with Aira to offer customers wayfinding services, its latest move to improve accessibility.

Walmart’s advertising business gets a boost: The retailer closed its Vizio acquisition, giving it inroads into the lucrative CTV market.

Walmart Connect attracts marketers, gaining ground over Amazon: Digiday data shows that marketers are enticed by Walmart’s growth and unique ad space.

Understanding the nuances of how and where Latin America’s 293.2 million digital buyers spend their money online is key for brands and retailers to succeed in the world’s second-fastest-growing region for ecommerce.

As competition intensifies and consumers continue to seek value, retailers will need to double down on how to differentiate themselves and offer shoppers what they want, wherever they are.

Walmart and Target reported their Q3 earnings last week. Despite varying retail success, both reported strong growth in their retail media networks—Walmart Connect’s US business grew 26% while Roundel’s growth was in the mid-teens, per CEO Brian Cornell.

Google and Meta landed slightly below expectations in Q3, allowing a collection of hungry competitors to inch ahead. But overall, the ad industry remains healthy. Sports events drove streaming and CTV to record gains, and retail media continues to be the sector’s fastest-growing ad channel.

Consumers turn to genAI to help with holiday shopping: Nearly one-fifth of global Cyber Five sales this year will be influenced by AI agents and other tools, Salesforce says.

How can retailers in grocery, the second-largest ecommerce category, optimize their online business to succeed?

To keep pace in a complex landscape and meet increasing demands from advertisers, commerce media players need to invest in fresh channels, tools, and innovation.

TikTok Shop wants to be a holiday season shopping hub: The platform’s Brand Palooza campaign features steep discounts, an extended returns window, and TikTok Lives from celebrities, brands, and creators.

Amazon launches Temu competitor Haul to maintain price advantage against online retailers: However, growing pains like shoddy AI-generated imagery could limit its traction with customers.

Understanding the nuances of how and where Mexico’s 67.5 million digital buyers spend their money online is key for brands and retailers to succeed in this thriving ecommerce market.​

From the rise of sophisticated AI-driven tools to new policies reshaping data privacy and competition, 2025 promises to be a year of relentless change. Companies that adapt will thrive, while others risk being left behind in a swiftly moving market.

Is the retail health clinic business model dead? Our forecasts project fewer consumers will visit a retail clinic such as CVS or Walgreens every year through 2026. We detail why below.

US beauty demand is normalizing as price sensitivities creep into purchasing behavior: That’s good news for e.l.f. Beauty but an added struggle for Coty and Estée Lauder, for which China remains a hurdle.

46.6% of US internet users are also Amazon Prime members, nearly two times as many as Costco (25.1%), the No. 2 biggest retail membership , according to data from Comscore.