Retail & ecommerce briefing Trends & Statistics
Sandwich chains look to shake up operations to fight slumping sales
Brands try to bolster value and innovate to win cost-conscious customers.
US retail sales beat expectations as holiday deals drive discretionary gains
November retail sales beat expectations in the US, but consumers in the UK, EU, and China are displaying signs of caution.
Delta buoyed by premium growth, but broader travel outlook is uneven
Delta leans into premium demand as broader travel industry shows signs of strain.
Grocery prices surge in December, marking the largest MoM increase since 2022
A 0.7% MoM spike in December is testing consumers' wallets and retailers' pricing strategies.
Sam’s Club bets natural ingredients can drive stronger membership
Most Member’s Mark foods now meet “Made Without” standards banning 40+ ingredients.
Aldi plans to open 180 US stores this year
Aldi looks to expand its reach by expanding its footprint and revamping its website.
Amazon rethinks brick-and-mortar with a new retail playbook
A 229,000-square-foot superstore may help Amazon boost offline share and strengthen its ecommerce fulfillment.
Google brings checkout to AI mode as it races rivals in agentic commerce
Google’s latest AI tools let users buy via chat as the company tries to turn its search dominance into agentic commerce gains.
Strong holiday sales can’t hide signs of retail softening
Despite upbeat holiday sales updates from several mall-based retailers, revisions to Q4 guidance point to mounting challenges.
Creator programs go mainstream as retailers chase social-fueled commerce
Creator programs become table stakes: Pacsun and David’s Bridal are the latest retailers to rely on social commerce and user-generated buzz to boost sales.
Retailers face tighter rules as China battles deflation and price wars
Beijing’s crackdown on ecommerce price wars could put an end to excessive discounts, but demand remains weak.
Target and Walmart bet on wellness as an everyday priority, not a seasonal trend
Wellness is now a full-year play, not just a January focus.
The cost of Instacart’s price-testing experiment continues to mount
Legal and political pressure is rising, but shaken consumer confidence may be harder to fix.
Hispanic consumers’ economic unease takes a bite out of Constellation Brands’ sales
Constellation Brands blames weak demand on the stiff socioeconomic headwinds facing Hispanic consumers.
In-store retail media gets a boost as Kroger, Albertsons, CVS expand networks
Kroger, CVS, and others are increasing in-store retail media investments as interest grows.
Microsoft enters the agentic commerce arms race
As AI agents gain traction, reliability will determine if consumers stick around.
Retail layoffs rose 123% in 2025
With 63% of consumers expecting unemployment to rise, retailers may face more belt-tightening ahead.
Uniqlo gains ground in US as Primark’s low-price play loses steam
Uniqlo delivered double-digit growth at the end of 2025, outpacing Primark, as shoppers opted for quality over rock-bottom prices.
Albertsons leans on AI and retail media as cautious spending takes hold
Albertsons cites belt-tightening across income tiers.
Estée Lauder shops legacy brands as beauty portfolio gets a reset
Estée Lauder seeks buyer for Too Faced, Smashbox, Dr. Jart, becoming one of many companies trying to offload underperforming assets as economic pressure reshapes strategy.
Powerful data and analysis on nearly every digital topic.
Become a ClientWant more marketing insights?
Sign up for EMARKETER Daily, our free newsletter.
Thanks for signing up for our newsletter!
You can read recent articles from EMARKETER here.- Learn about what technologies are transforming your industry
- Gain exclusive perspectives from top industry leaders
- Access thousands of data sets and forecasts via our iconic charts