Mobile checkout is shaping up to be a big theme in 2018, but some restaurants are implementing digital kiosks in addition to offering mobile ordering apps. It's just one more option for customers to choose from in an increasingly consumer-focused world.

If it seems like Amazon dominates most online retail categories, that’s because it does. But despite the online retailer's push into many private-label categories, it is still viewed as a source of staples rather than style.

Not many consumers have used augmented reality for shopping, but plenty are interested and some say they would be just as happy to avoid clothing retailers altogether if the technology made that possible.

Walmart unveiled a new, highly personalized service that comes with a distinctly non-Walmart touch—a high price. And the service is aimed at a distinctly nontraditional Walmart audience: upper income New Yorkers.

For retailers, top pricing pressures involve keeping up with the competition and reducing markdowns to remain profitable. More niche—but also important—are issues around dynamic pricing, the practice of lowering or raising prices on the fly.

Along with visual search, chatbots, and augmented and virtual reality, voice commerce has been on retailers' radar as the next big thing. None of those emerging technologies—despite varying degrees of consumer adoption—has pulled ahead of the pack, though.

The latest jobs report came just a day after Dollar Tree and Dollar General reported earnings that fell below Wall Street's expectations, leading some to question whether consumers will continue to favor low-price options in times of plenty.

Fewer people say offerings like online ordering and digital menus influence where they’re going to eat, according to a recent study from consulting firm AlixPartners.

Brands like Everlane and Reformation have promised transparency in the supply chain, labor practices, textile sourcing and more. Shoppers seem to be on board, but other factors may have greater importance.

Consumers have a wide range of customer service channels available to them—they can hop on the phone to help resolve an issue, or take to Facebook to air out any problems. And while this works for some people, others aren't so sure.

A comparison of the financial situation of millennials and Gen Xers finds that debt is higher for the new generation, and the makeup of that debt could have implications for spending habits.

According to a recent NetElixir survey, roughly 40% of US voice assistant users would welcome sponsored content or product suggestions if they were relevant to them.

Much has been written about value exchange and the push-pull of consumers' willingness to give up personal info for personalization, offers or other supposed special treatment. At the minimum, a retailer should be able to discern and differentiate a consumer at some point during a shopping journey.

A survey of US internet users found that those with kids are more likely to buy something from a retailer they're loyal to than seek out a cheaper option.

The retailer has been making big investments in delivery and fulfillment, as well as remodeling stores and introducing more private labels. These initiatives might not have all paid off yet, but according to Q1 earnings it looks like Target is on the right track.

Even though close to half of US internet users say they are making sacrifices to make ends meet, one-quarter plan to buy more premium brands in the next six months.

Many merchants surveyed by ACI Worldwide and Ovum believe that real-time payments will not only improve their customer service, but also save their organization money.

When people talk about the death of retail, that perceived gloom and doom is exemplified by poorly performing traditional channels like malls and department stores. But as major department stores report Q1 earnings, it doesn't appear to be that dire across the board.

Some four in 10 US internet users would visit or shop their favorite brand more often if their rewards status were communicated more clearly, according to new findings from 3Cinteractive.

Starbucks will remain the most popular proximity mobile payment app, staying ahead of Apple Pay and other competitors, according to eMarketer’s latest forecast on US proximity mobile payments.