Higher-income consumers feel the pinch of soaring inflation: US retail sales growth slowed to 2.9% year-over-year in March as spending on big-ticket items slowed.

US retail sales will hit $7.334 trillion this year, according to our forecast, a growth of 3.3% YoY. “Where we’re headed is something of a new normal of slower growth,” said our analyst Zak Stambor.

Even with a booming start, the first quarter of the year quickly became unstable after multiple banks collapsed. Here’s what we think banks’ results will show.

Samsung has a golden opportunity to reverse its misfortune: Profits have plunged as inflationary pressures put its US expansion in jeopardy. Outdoing Nvidia on chips is a winning strategy.

Resale is ultimately better for the environment, but consumers tend to cite savings—not sustainability—as the most important reason for purchasing used goods.

Gen Zs are more likely to start their shopping journey on TikTok than Google: They’re also less likely to cut back on discretionary spending, despite inflation.

It’s calling on bank officials to enforce tighter regulations that can be enacted under existing laws. But the actions don’t solve all the issues.

As consumers continue to grapple with inflation and economic uncertainty, our inaugural forecast shows that the US resale market will remain one of the fastest-growing segments in retail.

Inflation is inevitable and its impact is extensive, affecting everything from the cost of goods to consumer behavior and business expenses. To navigate these challenges, ecommerce businesses must be proactive in finding solutions to combat inflation’s effects to emerge stronger and more resilient.

US ad spend dropped 8.0% YoY in February, according to a MediaPost analysis of Standard Media Index’s US Ad Market Tracker. That marks eight months of consecutive YoY decline as part of a trend that began in July 2022.

The recent shocks to the US financial system will undoubtedly create a ripple effect for consumers, with many zoning in on what these banking failures mean for their own bank accounts and whether the current state of banking is viable or trustworthy as it now stands.

Though smaller than previous hikes, this one will still weigh on consumers, small banks, and even large, well-capitalized banks that are trying to help.

Inflation has hit pet owners hard: Petco and Chewy recognize that many of their customers are pulling back on discretionary spending, which could hinder growth in fiscal 2023.

After two years of outsized growth, ecommerce returns dipped by 2.5% year over year per our estimates, and we now expect ecommerce return rates to approach pre-pandemic levels by 2026

Discount stores are on an expansion tear: Amid growing sales, Dollar General, Five Below, and Dollar Tree plan to open more stores this year.

The gap between H&M and Inditex is getting wider: While Inditex records record profits, H&M veers toward a Q1 operating loss. (This article was written with the assistance of ChatGPT.)

Retail sales rose 6.4% in the first two months of 2023: While growth slowed in February, consumers continued to spend.

SVB leaves void of startup support in its wake: Depositors may get their money back but they’ll lose the go-to institution for young companies accessing capital. Brace for startup failures.

Slowing but persistent inflation continues to strain US consumers’ buying power: Real wages fell in February as prices for groceries, recreation, and airfare continued to rise.