The past six months have been a roller coaster of rising consumer-goods costs, uneven employment news, and increased optimism about the end of the pandemic—all mixed with a tightening of discretionary spending. In September, consumers were cutting back on dining out and entertainment. What are they doing now?
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| May 17, 2023
As marketing budgets bend under the pressure of economic uncertainty, SEO is increasingly important for its low costs and compounding returns. Some 58% of marketers plan to use AI for content and SEO by the end of this year, compared to 10% who currently do, according to BrightEdge data.
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| Mar 10, 2023
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| Apr 25, 2024
CPG brands hike prices to pad their margins: Companies are leveraging data to minimize the share of consumers who trade down to less expensive options. (This article was written with the assistance of ChatGPT.)
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| May 5, 2023
Walmart is shuttering four stores in Chicago: The retail giant says that the stores lose “tens of millions of dollars a year,” and their annual losses nearly doubled in the last five years.
Article
| Apr 12, 2023
The agency said it will use about $20B of the fund to cover Silicon Valley Bank depositors. Banks (and maybe customers) will pay in the long run.
Article
| Mar 29, 2023
SVB’s fall could set off more uncertainty in the tech sector: The collapse of a longtime cog in the country’s innovation engine will put additional strain on a tech sector already reeling from layoffs and losses.
Article
| Mar 14, 2023
On today's episode, we present our first-ever live recorded podcast segment of "Behind the Numbers Reimagining Retail," recorded during our "Attention!" summit. In the episode, hosts Sara Lebow and Marcus Johnson quiz our vice president of content Suzy Davidkhanian against her retail team—analysts Sky Canaves, Blake Droesch, and Zak Stambor—in a game show focused around consumer shopping behavior, how people perceive resale value, and whether folks want to use AR to shop.
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| Mar 7, 2023
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| Jan 4, 2024
Providing a glimpse into the strategies behind a year marked by economic uncertainty, ecommerce disruptors, and rising competition for consumer loyalty, our “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail” podcast’s unofficial retail awards offer lessons for brands to make more informed decisions in 2024. Our analysts discuss the winners that caught their attention—for better or worse.
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| Jan 2, 2024
Consumers look for deals, flexible payment options this holiday season: Over three-quarters of shoppers plan to hunt for discounts, while BNPL use is set to soar amid financial constraints.
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| Oct 5, 2023
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| Sep 29, 2023
Small banks and credit unions should focus on digital interactions, ease of use, and consumer safety to boost deposits in H2 2023.
Article
| Jun 21, 2023
Walmart sees growth opportunities regardless of the macroeconomic environment: The retailer looks to boost its international sales, improve its digital presence, and expand its retail media business.
Article
| Jun 5, 2023
Many retailers launched paid memberships over the past three years. For the most part, they were intended to increase revenues and build loyalty during the pandemic-driven ecommerce boom. But the slowdown in revenue growth indicates that consumers are only willing to spend so much on retail subscriptions, particularly amid economic uncertainty.
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| May 15, 2023
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| Apr 19, 2023
Higher-income consumers feel the pinch of soaring inflation: US retail sales growth slowed to 2.9% year-over-year in March as spending on big-ticket items slowed.
Article
| Apr 14, 2023
Amazon sees growth opportunities amid economic challenges: That's CEO Andy Jassy's key message in an optimistic letter to shareholders about navigating difficult terrain. (This article was written with the assistance of ChatGPT.)
Article
| Apr 13, 2023
Even with a booming start, the first quarter of the year quickly became unstable after multiple banks collapsed. Here’s what we think banks’ results will show.
Article
| Apr 11, 2023
Warehouse inventory levels remain a significant hurdle for many retailers: While there’s progress, only 36% of supply chain managers expect inventories to return to normal this year.
Article
| Apr 7, 2023
In times of economic uncertainty, it’s essential to foster an environment that both nurtures and challenges employees. In this discussion, Raval shares strategies to nurture a more collaborative, creative culture among employees, and how Frito-Lay is undertaking a digital evolution.
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| Mar 27, 2023
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| Mar 24, 2023
The recent shocks to the US financial system will undoubtedly create a ripple effect for consumers, with many zoning in on what these banking failures mean for their own bank accounts and whether the current state of banking is viable or trustworthy as it now stands.
Article
| Mar 24, 2023
Inflation has hit pet owners hard: Petco and Chewy recognize that many of their customers are pulling back on discretionary spending, which could hinder growth in fiscal 2023.
Article
| Mar 22, 2023
Retail sales rose 6.4% in the first two months of 2023: While growth slowed in February, consumers continued to spend.
Article
| Mar 15, 2023