A proposed antitrust bill could end Amazon Prime as we know it: The retail giant is ramping up its fight against “degrading” regulations as it seeks to maintain its ecommerce dominance.

On today's episode, we discuss the severity of Snap's recent profit warning, how companies can show they actually care about the planet, how many of us are served the wrong ads, why L.L. Bean quit social media for a month, the significance of Walmart expanding its drone program, an unpopular opinion about ratings, some stats about how much weddings cost, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Blake Droesch, Dave Frankland, and Evelyn Mitchell.

Consumers are returning to their pre-pandemic spending patterns: People are shifting their spending to services, which is leaving retailers with a slew of excess inventory.

CPG brands are struggling to compete with private labels: As the industry reaches a "breaking point," companies like Procter & Gamble are shifting tactics to appeal to price-conscious consumers.

American Eagle Outfitters’ supply chain business is transforming the company: While the merchant’s retail sales fell in Q1, its supply chain business helped the retailer get into the black.

There’s tough competition for workers this summer: While companies such as Subway, Walmart, and Starbucks are boosting hourly pay, the dearth of unemployed people looking for work could hinder growth.

It’s a difficult landscape for retailers: We break down how some retailers have successfully navigated the shifting terrain—and why others couldn’t.

Retailers take multiple approaches to inventory as supply chain woes wear on: Companies like Utz and DSW are cutting down on SKUs while Walmart and Target are stocking up early.

The beauty industry is getting a digital makeover, thanks to Gen Z, viral TikTok trends, AR capabilities, and new consumer behaviors. Brands will need to take a multichannel approach to keep up.

Consumers are trading down to private label brands: That presents an opportunity for retailers such as BJ’s Wholesale Club to use their own brands to demonstrate value and build loyalty.

Subscription models are driving customer loyalty in online sales of groceries and other essential goods, but fatigue among consumers threatens long-term growth.

The US labor market is a tale of two halves: While retailers with a strong brick-and-mortar presence are intensifying their hiring efforts, startups are taking a more cautious approach to recruitment as VC funding dries up.

Target and Walmart post disappointing Q1 results: Both were hurt by a confluence of factors that are unlikely to resolve anytime soon.

Following a banner year, US ad spending in 2022 will be shaped by three key trends: Linear TV crossing the Rubicon, a billionaires’ club emerging in connected TV (CTV), and ecommerce ad spending enriching Google, Amazon, and a crop of newcomers in search and retail media.

Payment provider innovation across remittances, B2B payments, and retail card and noncard payments is setting a long-term growth runway. In the short term, providers must navigate a host of obstacles to enable more crypto users to become crypto payers—and so far they’re succeeding.

Inflation hasn’t hurt retail sales, which grew 7.2% in April: That growth stems from people flocking to stores. In-store sales rose 10.0%, while ecommerce sales fell 1.8%.

In 2021, Amazon’s US average revenue per user (ARPU) for its retail media network was nearly 4 times that of Instacart and close to 9 times that of Walmart.

Walmart+ doubled its fuel discount to 10 cents per gallon: Inflated gas prices provide Walmart with an opportunity to drive more people to its membership program.

Diversification is key to Harry’s and ThirdLove’s growth plans: With consumer enthusiasm waning for direct-to-consumer models, the two companies offer a glimpse of what’s to come.

Despite slowing growth, US marketplace ecommerce sales are expected to hit $357.26 billion in 2022, making up 34.6% of all online sales.