Brands are staying quiet this Pride Month: Retailers that once loudly proclaimed their LGBTQ+ initiatives are keeping mum to avoid government attention.

Private label brands are no longer just the cheaper alternatives sitting on store shelves. They've evolved into strategic assets that build customer loyalty, boost retailer margins, and increasingly compete with national brands on quality and design, not just price.

2 in 5 brands plan to scale back Pride engagement: The change results from mounting conservative pressure—but some brands are reaffirming commitment.

Private label brands are set for another surge in momentum as consumers become increasingly concerned about the impact of tariffs.

Foot traffic to Target declined for the tenth straight week, according to Placer.ai. Visits to Target fell 7.9% the week of March 31, per the latest data. Walmart’s foot traffic has also fallen for 10 consecutive weeks, while visits to Best Buy are down from a slight rise in mid-March.

Tariffs will have a wide ranging impact on prices, consumer sentiment: Warehouse clubs, off-price retailers, and discount grocers could have an edge in this challenging retail environment.

Canada’s trade war with its largest trading partner is underway. While uncertainty remains around the scope and depth of US tariffs, Canadian brands and retailers need to rebalance a heavy reliance on US-based customers and suppliers.

Darden expects consumers to keep splurging on restaurant meals despite uncertainty: But dining out could be one of the first indulgences to go once tariff-related price hikes take effect.

Costco tries to shift tariff burden onto China suppliers: But that strategy comes with increasing risks as Beijing takes a more active role.

Amazon and Walmart dominate the landscape, but the other half of US ecommerce sales is still up for grabs.

Consumers’ value focus is an expansion opportunity for Costco, BJ’s: The two plan to open dozens of stores to capitalize on demand for warehouse retailers.

Costco’s sales spiked in February: The company’s ability to offer value—and possibly its commitment to DEI—boosted sales during a difficult month for retailers.

Warehouse club membership has its privileges: Strong sales show that consumers see these stores as a smart way to save as costs rise.

Consumers are voting with their wallets: 1 in 4 has stopped shopping at their favorite stores because of politics.

"Sam's Club's in-store experience is really smooth, easy, and elegant thanks to technology," our analyst Zak Stambor said on a recent "Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail" podcast.

Many large banks are watering down or removing online references to DEI in a polarized environment.

In January, the most interesting retailers capitalized on New Year’s trends like resolutions, lower-alcohol consumption, and an influx of holiday returns. Poshmark and Sephora introduced new partnerships, while Amazon and Temu increased their own retail media-related offerings. Here are the eight most significant retail developments of January 2024, ranked by their potential market impact.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss the unofficial list of the most interesting retailers for the month of January. Each month, our analysts Arielle Feger, Becky Schilling, and Sara Lebow (aka The Committee) put together a very unofficial list of the top eight retailers they're watching based on which are making the most interesting moves: Who's launching new initiatives? Which partnerships are moving the needle? Which standout marketing campaigns are being created? In this month's episode, Committee members Analyst Arielle Feger and Senior Analyst Sara Lebow will defend their list against Senior Analyst Zak Stambor and Analyst Rachel Wolff, who will dispute the power rankings by attempting to move retailers up, down, on, or off the list.

Sam’s Club's efforts to streamline its shopping experience pay off: It soared past Costco to place first in this year's customer satisfaction rankings for general merchandise retailers.

Retailers get burned on DEI: Companies risk backlash whether they stand firm or capitulate to anti-DEI pressure.