“Amazon is in such a unique position to give us an idea of broader consumer sentiment because of their scale and reach,” our analyst Sarah Marzano said on an episode of the “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail” podcast. This year, nearly three-quarters (72.7%) of all US households will be Prime members, according to our July 2024 forecast. “If we examine the behaviors that emerge from Prime Day, we get a good sense of how consumers are feeling.”

Retail sales via online marketplaces are growing faster than overall ecommerce. As competition in the sector rises, brands and retailers must navigate the challenges of an increasingly complex landscape.

Amazon Prime Day conditioned shoppers to expect bargains in July: That’s driven Google, Target, Walmart, and others to seize on the opportunity to drive consumers to spend.

As the share of US ecommerce sales on marketplaces continues to expand, our latest survey examines consumer buying habits and expectations across leading platforms.

Retailers are cautiously optimistic as they look ahead to the holiday season: Imports are expected to be slightly higher YoY as companies bring in more mid-priced items.

The proliferation of loyalty programs has heightened competition, so retailers will have to dig deeper into their customer data to drive active participation.

Amazon and Walmart follow a similar playbook: The retailers use exclusive access to events like Prime Day and Walmart+ Early Access to showcase the value of their membership programs.

Discounts are the leading reason consumers currently participate in a loyalty or reward program, cited by 48% of US adults, according to October 2023 data from Merkle.

Digital grocery will become the largest ecommerce category by 2026, according to our US Digital Grocery 2024 report. To grow their share of digital grocery sales, brands need to understand what motivates consumers to buy groceries online, how the digital grocery experience can be improved, and where growth opportunities lie.

The No. 1 issue US adults have with loyalty or reward programs is it takes too long to earn rewards, according to an October 2023 survey from Merkle.

Like last year, we expect deal-hunting consumers and mobile-forward brands to drive the 2024 holiday season, according to our US Holiday 2023 Recap and 2024 Preview report.

Last year, Kroger found success embracing omnichannel shoppers and personalizing digital promotions, which helped it grow its identical sales (without fuel) 0.9% YoY. Looking ahead, the retailer is counting on its digitally engaged customers to fuel its retail media network, which Kroger expects to grow 20% next year.

Target announced it will launch a paid membership program April 7, following Amazon and Walmart’s lead.The move comes asTarget struggles to keep up with competitors.

Over half (55%) of adults worldwide say that offering points or reward systems are the top way to keep them coming back, according to a November 2023 survey from Marigold in conjunction with Econsultancy.

Last December, TikTok user Lukas Battle posted a video proclaiming that 2024 is all about loud budgeting, which encourages consumers to open up about how they spend their money and take pride in saying no to unnecessary purchases.

Cash is no longer king in Brazil after being dethroned by the central bank’s instant payments system, Pix. This report explores who’s using Pix (nearly two-thirds of the population), what’s fueling its immense popularity, and how it will reshape Brazil’s payments landscape this year and beyond.

Deal-seeking shoppers spent $222.1 billion online this holiday season: Elevated discounts drove spending across the electronics, apparel, furniture, and toy categories.

Disparities in which groups receive these deals led the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to ask questions about fair lending practices.

TikTok Shop has rapidly emerged an important channel for some merchants: But whether those early gains are sustainable remains a question given the significant discounts that drove those results.

Gen Z is ready to spend this season. Millennials may be a bit cautious. YouTube is the place to go if brands want to get on Gen Alpha’s radar. And for older consumers, trust is the key to getting them to spend. Here’s how retailers can appeal to each generation as the holiday season readies for Cyber Five.