Nobody knows what’s ahead: Macroeconomic turmoil and shifting tariff policies make forecasting a guessing game that many consumer brands are opting out of.

Domino’s customers pulled back on delivery to save money: Consumers’ focus on cost is unlikely to ease anytime soon, especially with new tariffs expected to push everyday prices even higher.

DoorDash makes $3.6 billion bid for Deliveroo despite global economic uncertainty: The delivery company hopes to broaden its international reach at a time when consumers are cutting restaurant spend.

Amazon sellers rethink Prime Day participation: With tariffs wreaking havoc on their profits and ability to plan, merchants expect to reduce discounts or skip this year’s sale entirely.

China-based firms look to skirt the tariffs: Some have reached out to Indian exporters to fill orders on their behalf, while others turn to bonded warehouses.

Hispanic consumers curb spending over immigration policy fears: Their discretionary purchases are falling sharply, hurting sales at Walmart and Constellation.

ByteDance restructures TikTok Shop’s US operations: The move reflects growing dissatisfaction with the unit’s performance, as well as a potential change in strategy as uncertainty threatens growth.

D2C shoppers want fast delivery speed: Survey shows they are less interested in the story behind a brand and more concerned about basic operational execution.

US ecommerce sales will be hit hard by tariffs: Many online platforms’ advantages could disappear as prices rise, inventory runs dry, and delivery times slow.

Walmart promises support for tariff-hit Chinese manufacturers: The retailer will help suppliers get in front of domestic shoppers as it tries to stay on Beijing’s good side.

Chipotle sees pullback in spending tied to consumer unease: Despite those challenges, McDonald’s and Sonic have both found recent success with limited-time promotions.

Tariffs wreak havoc on travel demand: Airlines say demand for domestic travel has fallen off a cliff as more consumers opt to stay home amid uncertainty.

Gucci sales slid 25% in Q1: The brand’s struggles put parent company Kering in a tough spot as it attempts to navigate a slowdown in luxury goods spending.

Tariff-related price hikes are coming, CPGs warn: P&G, Keurig Dr Pepper, and Nestlé are among the companies planning to raise prices to offset cost increases.

Several foreign carmakers saw US sales surge in March: But that momentum is likely to stall given the 25% tariffs on imported vehicles and imported auto parts set to take effect by May 3.

Wealthier consumers are trading down: This could favor retailers that blend value and premium offerings with tailored merchandising and pricing.

Could OpenAI turn ChatGPT into a shopping hub? The company is reportedly partnering with Shopify in an effort similar to other genAI shopping efforts by Perplexity and Microsoft.

Tesla struggles to keep up as production challenges, Musk controversy hurt sales: The company is in a difficult spot as tariffs threaten to curb demand further and jack up production costs.

Food companies look to profit from consumers’ protein fixation: Demand for healthier products—and pressure from the MAHA movement—is pushing manufacturers to embrace “better for you” options.

Retailers aren’t likely to get certainty any time soon: The Trump administration is considering slashing China tariffs down to a still-astronomical 50% or 65%, leaving merchants to stay cautious on merchandising.