Nike troubles complicate Foot Locker’s turnaround plan: The retailer lowered its full-year guidance as it struggles to win over cautious shoppers outside of peak shopping periods.

Dollar General’s Popshelf format announces app, loyalty, and store updates to attract wealthier shoppers: The retailer will also close all locations in DG Market stores after the assortment failed to win over the dollar store’s core customer base.

Holiday travel demand is strong, United and Delta say—except for during the presidential election: Uncertainty is pushing some consumers to defer discretionary spending.

LVMH fell short in Q3 as Chinese consumers’ pessimism hurt sales: The luxury conglomerate missed revenue expectations as economic uncertainty caused shoppers to pull back.

Our expanded Latin America retail and ecommerce coverage now includes breakouts for 16 markets across Mexico, Central America, and South America. Brazil and Mexico will drive the bulk of net new ecommerce sales this year with a combined regional market share of 75.2%.

Retailers faced no shortage of challenges in the first half of the year as elevated interest rates, the lingering effects of inflation, and a loosening labor market weighed on consumer spending. In this report, we’ll contextualize our coverage of retailers’ Q2 revenues across four key verticals: department stores, home, mass merchants, and off-price.

The US consumer is holding up, according to Walmart: The retailer raised its full-year outlook after solid spending from value-seeking shoppers drove it to a Q2 earnings beat—although it warned of uncertainty heading into election season.

Consumers don’t feel great, but they’re still spending: Retail sales blew past expectations in June despite subdued confidence among lower-income households.

Etsy fights against Amazonification with new seller policies: The marketplace is overhauling its product designations to ensure all items have a human touch.

Gap’s turnaround momentum is building: The retailer is winning over shoppers with on-trend styles, while boosting its profile with buzzy celebrity and brand partnerships.

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.

Walmart’s market share gains continued in Q1 as the retailer emphasizes value and convenience: The company continues to draw in more high-income shoppers, while its advertising and marketplace offerings boost revenues.

Home Depot’s sales have fallen for six straight quarters: That’s largely a reflection of a dismal housing market that CNN calls the “the worst time ever to buy a home.”

Turnaround plans aren’t easy: While Abercrombie turned its fortunes around by delivering styles that resonate with Gen Zers and millennials, Foot Locker’s growth strategy remains a work in progress.

Consumer spending patterns shifted in 2023: Retailers like Walmart, TJ Maxx, and E.l.f Beauty benefited from consumers growing cost consciousness.

Macy’s looks to private labels to boost its bottom line: As consumers pull back on discretionary spending, retailers are turning to private labels to differentiate their merchandise and improve margins.

Apparel and consumer electronics could get a boost from the back-to-school and holiday seasons. But home improvement may have a ways to go before the category rebounds.

The home improvement market bubble has burst: Home Depot expects sales to decline this year for the first time in over a decade as consumers pull back on home-related purchases.

As apparel retailers grapple with consumers’ pullback in discretionary spending, a few common themes are emerging. Some are refocusing on core consumers while others are experimenting with cutting-edge technologies.