Brazil is Latin America’s largest retail ecommerce market by total sales volume and will be this year’s third-fastest-growing digital economy worldwide. Understanding the nuances of how and where Brazil’s diverse consumer base spends its money online is key for brands and retailers to thrive in this highly competitive ecommerce market.

“The restaurant industry is still reeling from the impact of the pandemic,” our content director Becky Schilling said on an episode of “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail” podcast. On top of that, inflation and economic uncertainty has made for a tough four years. In face of these persisting challenges, restaurants are turning to AI and unified commerce solutions to improve the customer experience, build loyalty, and supercharge personalization.

“We've seen tremendous resilience from the consumer and that's driving a lot of success for retailers in the brick and mortar space,” said Ethan Chernofsky, senior vice president of marketing at Placer.ai, during our virtual summit. Despite rising inflation and pullbacks on discretionary spending, consumers are still eager to treat themselves and participate in unique retail experiences. We break down three trends influencing shopping behavior for the rest of the year, each paired with a retail opportunity.

Inflation is on the rise and the competition for consumer dollars is heating up between restaurants and retailers. Here are five insights into how consumers are purchasing their food as prices continue to rise.

The personal consumption expenditures price index (PCE) rose again in March, increasing 2.7% YoY (including food and energy), according to the US Commerce Department. Because rising prices mean consumers are likely to remain cautious with how they’re spending their money, retailers like Michaels and Giant Food are cutting prices across their stores to help maintain or grow sales.

Restaurants are investing in AI and unified commerce to enhance personalization and the customer experience.

Retailers with roots in China are still gaining share of ecommerce in Western Europe, despite concerns over their sustainability credentials.

Nearly a third (32%) of US consumers decreased online spending in Q1 2024, according to Jungle Scout’s latest Consumer Trends Report. Here are five insights into how and where consumers shopped over the first quarter of 2024.

But the data suggests a full credit card recovery will likely take longer than expected

Gen Zers and young millennials are the most likely to splurge on beauty in 2024—but their path to purchase is anything but straightforward.

Growth has slowed, but bright spots remain in key categories.

Knowing how price-sensitive consumers are at this moment, brands need to be extra cautious how they position themselves and their messaging. Otherwise, they could risk angering or alienating consumers, as evidenced by the reaction to recent comments from executives at the WK Kellogg Co and Wendy’s.

Digital grocery sales are growing again across Western Europe as inflation forces higher spending, click and collect gains momentum, and mobile loyalty schemes come to the fore. ​

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.

Ecommerce executives are bullish about 2024: That’s driving a significant share to aggressively invest in areas such as marketing, technology, and infrastructure upgrades, per a survey exclusively shared with Insider Intelligence.

UK ecommerce sales have bounced back to steady growth as consumer spending remains resilient despite inflationary pressures. Most major categories will see a further shift online by 2027, bringing opportunities for ecommerce retailers.

Dollar stores and off-price retailers set to once again dominate store openings in 2024: Economic uncertainty continues to fuel expansion opportunities for budget retailers.

It was a happy holiday season for several retailers: Lululemon, Abercrombie & Fitch, Crocs, and Pandora are among the companies that beat expectations over the final months of 2023.

The Latin American economy is on the upswing, with digital innovation in the driver’s seat. Our trends report explores how retail media, commerce, and generative AI will be redefined in 2024 and what businesses need to know to get ahead.

Marketers have upbeat outlook for 2024: Digital channels will continue to gain favor, but measurement challenges loom.