What trends will be talking about this year? Economic pressures will push retailers to look for new revenue streams this year.

The days of heady growth are over for rapid grocery startups: The once-frothy sector is now down to a handful of players and facing steep competition from Uber and Doordash.

Economic uncertainty caused investors to grow cautious: Even so, there were several significant acquisitions in 2022.

Mobile commerce is driving a growing share of retail ecommerce orders: That puts the onus on retailers to create well-designed, easy-to-use experiences for their mobile websites and apps

Retailers’ return rates are rising: That’s a significant challenge to merchants’ bottom lines, but it also presents an opportunity for those that offer a straightforward process.

US retail sales grew 7.6% over the holiday season: Consumers diversified their spending due to inflation and a desire to return to pre-pandemic activities such as eating out.

Social commerce sales will reach $107.17 billion by 2025: While Facebook and Instagram will still attract the most buyers, it’s TikTok that’s making the most aggressive moves.

Which retailers and brands won (or lost) in 2022? Retailers that catered to the budget or luxury ends of the price spectrum did well, while those that dealt in discretionary categories like apparel and electronics saw the biggest drop-off in consumer spending.

Which categories performed best in 2022—and which struggled? Inflation drove consumers to spend more on essentials like groceries, at the expense of discretionary categories.

Which categories will perform well in 2023—and which will stumble? Some of this year’s trends will continue into next year, while changing consumer behaviors will drive others’ rise—and possible fall.

Which retailers and brands will win (or lose) in 2023? Retailers that can offer value—either in terms of price or convenience—will continue to thrive, while those that cater to an increasingly squeezed middle class will struggle.

Amazon continued to dominate ecommerce in 2022: But advertising, not retail, was the company’s biggest success story this year—although not enough to prevent the layoffs of 20,000 employees.

A wave of store closures could hit in 2023: Slowing sales amid a broader economic slowdown could force mid-tier retailers to shutter brick-and-mortar stores.

US retail sales fell 0.6% in November: But spending on services like restaurants and travel continues to grow as shoppers prioritize experiences over physical goods.

Shoppers hold out for Super Saturday sales: A record 158 million consumers are expected to shop that day as Amazon, Target, and Walmart ramp up promotions.

Inflation eased in November: Slowing grocery inflation and falling energy costs are giving consumers and businesses a reason for optimism heading into 2023.

UK inflation eased in November: However, there is no shortage of challenges facing UK merchants and consumers, including a recent rail strike.

Amazon is the latest company to copy TikTok: The retailer is adding a continuous, shoppable feed to its app to enhance product discovery and grow sales.

Shein may soon directly compete with Alibaba and Amazon: The fast-growing fashion retailer is reportedly exploring evolving into an online marketplace that enables other merchants to sell on its platform.

Carvana and Bed Bath & Beyond teeter closer to bankruptcy: Both retailers are facing serious money problems as decisions made during the pandemic come back to haunt them.