Asia-Pacific retail sales growth will stay resilient at 4.9% in 2026 despite volatility, as ecommerce in China nears 50% of retail sales, and livestreaming will top $1 trillion for the first time. Instant and AI-driven commerce will reshape the region’s digital commerce future, and India and Southeast Asia will power the next growth wave.

As ecommerce gains concentrate among a few dominant players, smaller retailers have an opening if they can carve out share in an increasingly uneven market.

Collections from John Galliano will help elevate perception and fend off Shein.

Rising input costs and transit chaos are straining apparel companies’ margins and disrupting shipments.

UK ecommerce is entering a steady, mature phase—but there are still opportunities for growth.

Regulatory heat rises, yet low prices and trendy products keep shoppers hooked and sales growing.

US fashion ecommerce is maturing just as AI, social commerce, and resale gain traction. Slower growth and costly returns are raising the stakes, reshaping how consumers discover, decide, and buy.

Regulatory crackdowns and trade barriers threaten growth—but its consumer appeal remains strong.

TikTok Shop's low prices came with shaky trust, but the budget retailer is maturing into a serious marketplace and attracting partnerships.

Trump’s tariff era hits retail unevenly as higher-income shoppers continue spending, but lower-income households feel the squeeze.

In 2026, commerce will thread itself even more tightly into the platforms consumers already use, whether they're watching TV, scrolling TikTok, or browsing a retailer’s site. Streamers will hunt for new revenues beyond subscriptions and ads, fashion shoppers will polarize toward luxury or low-cost, and TikTok Shop will transition from experiment to expectation. Meanwhile, creators will embed more directly into retail environments as brands seek safer, more strategic partnerships.

Temu and Shein face a highly uncertain future, with both at the mercy of global trade policies amid growing tensions over ultra-cheap Chinese exports.

Reuters reporting suggests Meta has been unable to contain large-scale fraud in its China ad ecosystem. Despite launching a dedicated crackdown in early 2024 that cut violating ads from 19% to 9% of China revenue, enforcement was later relaxed, allowing misconduct to climb back to 16% by mid-2025. A multilayer reseller network, weak overseas deterrence in China, and partner whitelisting made violations difficult to trace. China advertisers still generated more than $18 billion for Meta in 2024, creating tension between revenue goals and quality controls. The case raises sharp questions about platform accountability and advertiser risk.

Canada’s digital economy is entering a faster, more competitive phase in 2026 as ad spending accelerates, short video surges, ecommerce climbs, and AI-driven search reshapes how audiences discover content.

Shifts in what consumers watch, how they search, and where they shop are reshaping Latin America’s digital economy—and how brands will reach audiences in 2026. Explore the five trends to watch in the year ahead.

Shein and Temu are under intensifying global scrutiny as US, European, and Chinese authorities tighten oversight of Chinese-affiliated ecommerce platforms. Texas is investigating Shein over forced labor and safety concerns, while Sen. Tom Cotton is urging a federal probe into IP theft at both companies. The pressure extends abroad, with Shein’s French marketplace suspended and China demanding sales data to combat tax evasion. With de minimis advantages eroding and consumer trust wavering, these platforms must strengthen marketplace quality and local partnerships to remain competitive amid rising regulatory risk.

Mobile will account for nearly half of US online sales in 2026 and become the dominant channel in 2027. To make the most of this shift, retailers and brands should enhance integration of their shopping apps and loyalty programs.

France’s government is pushing for a three-month suspension of Shein’s entire site after authorities discovered illegal firearms and sex toys for sale on its marketplace, per Reuters. It is also being sued for up to €3 billion ($3.25 billion) in damages by a consortium of French retailers and retail associations for allegedly using fake promotions to attract shoppers and failing to comply with regulatory standards. Political considerations are contributing to the crackdown on Shein as governments seek ways to protect local retailers from ultra low-cost rivals, but the company hasn’t helped its case.

Q3 was a record-breaking quarter for the three largest ad platforms, but heavy spending on AI is compressing margins and raising questions about how the technology will impact the future of digital advertising.