The news: Amazon is testing humanoid delivery robots, per The Information, which could work in tandem with human drivers or as part of an autonomous fleet of delivery vehicles. The humanoid robotics team is working on incorporating large language models (LLMs) from Chinese companies DeepSeek and Alibaba so the bots can contextualize real-world surroundings. Our take: Delivery bots could help with heavy loads and ease the burden on human drivers, but Amazon might be better served with a less human form factor, such as a platform with walking legs to carry packages. The focus on humanoids could limit functionality, and bringing the uncanny valley to consumers’ front door could be off-putting.
Centralized payment options and automating spend threshold One Credential can help to keep PayPal products top-of-wallet for Gen Z.
With account integration ending for Android wallets, PayPal sets its sights on keeping more users within its own ecosystem.
The trend: Consumer packaged goods brands are prioritizing profitability as macroeconomic headwinds reshape consumer behavior. For example, Kimberly-Clark is selling a majority stake in its international tissue business to Suzano and P&G is cutting roughly 15% of its global nonmanufacturing workforce. Our take: While short-term headwinds may be driving CPG companies’ actions, portfolio reassessment is a valuable exercise in any economic climate. Those that take the time to find efficiencies that enable them to emerge stronger and more agile will be better positioned for long-term success than companies simply focused on cutting costs.
The news: Lululemon beat earnings expectations and met revenue forecasts in Q1, but softening demand in its core Americas market cast a shadow over the results. Our take: Even premium brands aren’t immune to macro pressures. As consumers grow increasingly cost-conscious, discretionary purchases—especially those with big price tags—are easy for consumers to postpone. Lululemon’s challenge now is not just product innovation, but convincing shoppers its value proposition is worth the premium.
On today’s podcast episode, we check in on how retailers’ financials are looking this year, different approaches to inventory, and what Q2 is telling us. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Senior Analysts Blake Droesch and Zak Stambor.
29.5% of consumers say tariff-fueled price hikes would immediately impact their buying habits, and only 2.3% say their buying habits wouldn’t be impacted at all by price, according to a February 2025 Omnisend survey.
The news: Spirit Halloween canceled its annual kickoff event due to “international disruptions and supply chain challenges,” it said in a social media post. Our take: While the retailer did not directly cite tariffs, it is the latest warning sign that President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” duties could result in emptier shelves during key shopping seasons.
Global fintech revenues increased by 21% YoY in 2024, a strong increase from 13% in the previous year, per Boston Consulting Group and QED Investor’s Global Fintech Report. Challenger banks such as Monzo, Nubank, and Resolut fueled impressive 23% revenue growth in the deposit vertical. Trading and investment fintech revenues grew 21%, and Insurance fintechs measured 40% growth. Fintechs need to drill down into key demographics like digital natives, the unbanked, and the underbanked. Scaled fintechs can also focus on merger and acquisition (M&A) opportunities.
A new credit card is a smart way to contend with incumbents and fintech competitors, but a confusing product line could dampen its adoption.
Almost three-fourths (74%) of consumers prefer to shop in-store for alcoholic beverages versus only buying them online (7%), according to March data from ThinkNow Research.
Chinese consumers’ travel spending softened during a recent holiday: That’s a clear sign that confidence is strained due to trade tensions with the US.
This decision feeds into the rising enthusiasm for stablecoin as the future of payments.
There are now more than 80 retail media networks (RMNs) in the US. The volume of RMNs, combined with the dominance of Amazon and other established competitors, makes it challenging for new and niche RMNs to capture share.
Amazon faces renewed antitrust scrutiny in Europe: The retailer is under fire from German regulators concerned that its price controls limit competition.
Consumers’ belt tightening was good news for Campbell’s in FYQ3: The consumer packaged goods company benefited from a surge in home cooking, now at its highest rate since the pandemic.
The ease and novelty of BNPL loans can rapidly snowball into a crisis for already financially fragile consumers.
They can stand out from the pack by increasing their offerings, providing data analytics, and forging key partnerships.