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The growing trade war could dim America’s birthday and beyond: With flags and fireworks largely produced in China, July Fourth may be quieter—and holiday gifts scarcer.

Dollar General’s core customer is under considerable financial strain: Many shoppers can only afford basic essentials as inflation and economic uncertainty take their toll.

Sweater weather has arrived, meaning pumpkin spice-flavored everything will flood retail shelves. But consumers’ price consciousness could make it difficult for retailers to encourage spending on discretionary purchases. That’s why Amazon, Target, and Albertsons are expanding their private label brands, leaning on fun, seasonal flavors and small indulgences to get consumers to splurge beyond their normal groceries.

This can help the POS provider attract a wider range of customers and cross-sell other features

Retailers are feeling the ripple effects of new tariffs as consumers brace for higher prices. While some shoppers accept the trade-off, many are already adjusting their habits—from cutting back on fast food to seeking out deals. To stay competitive, brands must focus on value, transparency, and smart messaging. Here are five key stats on how tariffs are shaking things up.

Smaller sales can produce big results: Once again, Amazon is using category-specific sales events to drive increasingly cautious consumers to spend.

Costco’s sales spiked in February: The company’s ability to offer value—and possibly its commitment to DEI—boosted sales during a difficult month for retailers.

McDonald’s zigs when others zag: Rather than follow the lead of Denny's and Waffle House in adding an egg surcharge, the fast food giant is slashing the price of its Egg McMuffin.

Tariffs will have a wide ranging impact on prices, consumer sentiment: Warehouse clubs, off-price retailers, and discount grocers could have an edge in this challenging retail environment.

Large retailers operating in commodity categories such as consumer packaged goods (CPG) are often competing for advertising budgets from the same pool of endemic advertisers, while smaller specialty retailers have fewer endemic advertisers to choose from in the first place. Extending ad inventory to non-endemic advertisers is one way to broaden the pool of potential revenues.

Key takeaway: While traffic scale is important, our 2023 CPG Retail Media Networks Perception Benchmark found that traffic quality was the most important attribute of a RMN to CPG ad buyers.

Inclusive brands, exclusive growth: Beauty companies that champion inclusion unlock new customer segments and drive higher sales, a Circana and SeeMee Index study shows.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how department stores are getting on, how they’re evolving, and what the contemporary department store needs to do to stick around. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Vice President of Content Suzy Davidkhanian and Senior Analyst Carina Perkins.

Ecommerce sales have returned to modest growth in Western Europe as the economic outlook brightens and more people embrace the convenience of shopping via mobile phone.