International and commercial spending, along with value-added services, drove the network’s revenues.

American Express’ total revenues increased 11% in Q3 2025, per its earnings release. Increased card member spending, higher net interest income, revolving loan balances, and card fees supported growth, the company said. The uptick in dining indicates that even the wealthy are looking to pull back on bigger indulgences like vacation and looking for more local opportunities to splurge. To make up for lost travel volume, issuers should encourage spending on fine dining with exclusive dining pop-ups and experiences through their dining apps, focusing on local vendors—similar to Square’s Neighborhoods’ launch, but elevated.

The news: United is hosting five days’ worth of exclusive deals for United Chase cardholders beginning August 4. Each day will have its own exclusive, time-sensitive international travel offer. Cardholders will have the chance to fly one way to a mystery location for only 30,000 miles (plus about $35 in taxes and fees). Our take: United, along with its competitors, are looking for ways to reverse slumping sales. Targeting international and premium products, while also strengthening its loyalty program, could be a sage way to turn things around.

The news: Gen Z is preparing an ambitious lineup of summer fun—including domestic and international travel, shopping and dining, and vacation upgrades—to a degree that outstrips millennials, Gen X, and baby boomers, per a study by Bread Financial. Our take: Gen Zers invest in work/life balance and are willing to spend to maximize their R&R experiences. Brands should meet this generation with luxury-first options and seamless experiences to maximize their return on investment for the younger cohort willing to spend to make a good time a great one.

We look at how issuers can adjust their strategies to match millennial and Gen Z travel behaviors.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss what a tariff even is, what might happen when they’re implemented, and how best to prepare for them. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Principal Analysts Paul Briggs and Matteo Ceurvels, and Analyst Rachel Wolff.

Card spend from these factors helped lift revenues 9% YoY

With Meta and Google building private subsea cables, they’re bypassing telecom giants, ensuring faster services and reshaping how the internet reaches developing regions.

The boom times for ecommerce and retail have largely passed. “It’s going to be harder [for retailers] to identify pockets of growth and opportunity. But, the good news is that it’s not going to be that roller coaster of demand fluctuations that has been challenging for retailers to navigate over the last couple of years,” our analyst Blake Droesch said.

Although regulators believe big banks will stay safe, they expect some other lenders will shut down.

A more accessible and expansive Walmart+ membership will help the retailer to reach 29 million subscribers this year, while in-store retail media formats could boost ad revenues. A push into B2B, logistics, and international markets may also prove lucrative.

Close to a third of US digital buyers will purchase from a company located outside the country in 2024, for a total of 71.8 million cross-border ecommerce buyers, per our forecast.

Amazon is the top dog of US retail, accounting for 37.6% of all US ecommerce sales this year for a total of $431.11 billion dollars, according to our forecast. While the giant has a successful stronghold in many US industries, Amazon isn’t dominant everywhere, especially as it pertains to a physical footprint and getting consumers comfortable with its elite tech. Here are a few areas Amazon hasn’t overtaken—yet.

Amazon will capture more than half (51.1%) of all retail ecommerce sales in Germany this year, according to our forecast. Canada will have the second-highest share of Amazon ecommerce sales among the countries we track, at 41.5%, followed by the US, UK, Japan, and Mexico.

Alibaba, Amazon, and Mercado Libre dominate retail ecommerce in different parts of the world. Here’s a look at how these marketplaces stack up, in seven charts and graphics.

Silicon Valley goes global: The Great Resignation and remote work have pushed tech companies to hire international software developers. It could significantly change Silicon Valley and emerging tech hubs worldwide.

Parcels in the US, Australia, and the UK most commonly originate from China, as many retailers ship goods from the country.

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