Retail media ad spending keeps climbing, but growth is slowing and the largest networks are tightening their grip. Off-site advertising, CTV, and AI shopping ads offer new revenue opportunities, while smaller networks face mounting pressure to stand out.

China’s shopping landscape is transforming as AI reshapes product discovery and purchasing decisions. From AI shopping agents to shifting priorities, changing consumer behavior is creating new opportunities and challenges for brands and retailers.

Distinct events and merchandise refreshes aim to give shoppers more reasons to return.

Walmart expands its digital healthcare marketplace with General Medicine, bringing personalized care shopping and new competition for online healthcare players.

Installments can lower the upfront hurdle of bulk shopping as more consumers finance groceries.

New guardrails and technical infrastructure aim to make agentic shopping easier without sacrificing customer control.

Rising fuel expenses could eat into the savings retailers planned to pass on through tariff refunds.

Walmart and Amazon control most of the channel, leaving traditional grocers fighting for a smaller share.

AI is fueling a banner year for global advertising, pushing digital spending to new heights despite economic and geopolitical stresses. Retail media is surging worldwide, while Meta and Amazon gain ground in the battle for ad dollars.

As FAST audiences expand, brands can connect social and streaming campaigns to reach ad-receptive viewers.

Walmart and McDonald’s are drawing lines around dynamic pricing as consumers grow wary of how prices are set.

In Q3 2026, we analyzed 14,540 ChatGPT recommendations across 20 apparel and fashion categories to compile the AI Visibility Index.

AI recommendations for apparel and fashion favor established brands, but visibility is tightly contested and varies sharply by category. Retailer and publisher sources also shape which brands surface, and which land in the top spot.

In August 2026, we analyzed 4,680 ChatGPT recommendations across 20 consumer health categories to compile the AI Visibility Index.

Muse, a personal AI agent that carries out tasks like searches and shopping on its user’s behalf, has already proven popular. It launched in the US on September 8 and passed 2.5 million downloads by September 21, with an estimated 448,000 daily users by day 10.

Shop to Light turns digital labels into a tool for finding items, stocking shelves, and filling orders.

Commerce media’s inherited advantage is reaching its limits. The next phase depends on earning consumer attention and advertiser demand, even as conversational commerce reshapes the high-intent ad model that fueled its rise.

AI mentions in personal care and beauty favor established brands, but visibility can shift quickly with model updates. Our Q3 index tracks ChatGPT visibility across nine industry categories.

The World Cup and presidential elections have lifted ad spending growth across all major media in 2026, but digital’s momentum will extend beyond the event-driven boost.