蘑菇AV

Ecommerce may be hit particularly hard after President Donald Trump ramped up tariffs on China to 245% and announced plans to tighten regulations on de minimis imports from China and Hong Kong鈥攎oves that will likely dampen sales from Chinese-based sellers on online marketplaces operated by retailers like Amazon and Walmart, as well as reduce growth for platforms like Shein and Temu.

The tie-up will bring Klarna to more than 100,000 merchant locations, making it easy for shoppers to access Klarna in stores. It will roll out to all Clover devices in early 2026. The two plan to bring the tie-up to ecommerce payments and other geographic markets later.

How we got here: Klarna became available to eBay shoppers in the UK, Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain in December 2024. Electronics, fashion, and collectibles are some of the most popular categories where eBay shoppers are paying with Klarna, according to the companies.

While shoppers consider eco-friendly factors when shopping, many are unwilling to pay extra. Here are four charts that reveal how consumers feel about sustainability and how it affects their purchasing behavior. Shipping is consumers鈥� top online shopping sustainability concern, though it鈥檚 not a factor for everyone.

PRO+ subscribers have access to Industry KPIs, our collection of more than 400 benchmarks in marketing and retail and ecommerce across a range of industries and countries. Click here for more information.

Ecommerce platforms Temu and Shein claimed the third spot as they began raising prices in response to import costs and potential tariffs on Chinese goods. This price adjustment creates a critical strategic challenge for platforms whose primary competitive advantage has been ultra-low pricing.

But on-site ad inventory is finite, and its worth to advertisers is inextricably tied to ecommerce traffic, which leaves most retailers at a disadvantage. Further adding to on-site woes, advertisers have begun to question the ROI of ads so close to the bottom of the purchase funnel. Retail media鈥檚 biggest players are maxing out their owned and operated surfaces.

If marketplace sellers raise prices as expected, the impact on Amazon shoppers would be significant, since we expect roughly $2 out of every $3 (66.8%) US shoppers spend on the platform this year will go to those third parties.

Uncertainty creeps into US spending: Luxury companies can no longer rely on US consumers to pick up the slack as Chinese shoppers curb their spending. While LVMH noted that the American consumer cohort has stayed fairly resilient, particularly in the fashion and leather goods segment, shoppers are spending less locally.

New tariffs and policy uncertainty are raising prices, stalling guidance, and pushing shoppers toward discount channels, especially in ecommerce and essential goods. Tech companies face rising regulatory and tariff pressure.

Our take: While shoppers expect tariffs to raise prices, how brands communicate those increases matters. Transparency is generally the best policy, though it can be hard to maintain amid considerable uncertainty.

An example of the latter is Amazon Prime Video targeting using shopping history on the ecommerce platform. Additionally, retailers are opening their media networks to non-endemic buyers (brands that don鈥檛 usually sell through the retailer property but offer related products that appeal to certain user behaviors). In-store ad inventory also represents a growing opportunity.

This means more opportunities for advertisers to connect with shoppers not just online or in-store, but while they鈥檙e pumping gas or grabbing a snack. These quick-stop environments often spark impulse decisions, making them prime real estate for timely, behavior-triggering messaging.

The bid 鈥渋s proof of TikTok鈥檚 prowess in ecommerce and the changing nature of how consumers shop and buy,鈥� per 蘑菇AV vice president of content Jasmine Enberg. AppLovin is in negotiations to acquire TikTok, with individuals familiar with the matter telling CNBC that the Trump administration is 鈥渇ully aware鈥� of AppLovin鈥檚 interest.

Hunkering down: As shoppers brace for higher costs, they鈥檙e finding new ways to manage their spending. Households are doing laundry less often to save money on detergent, P&G CEO Jon Moeller said.

While Argentina is opening its economy to foreign businesses, Brazil and Mexico are taking steps to curb the growing popularity of Asia-based ecommerce platforms like Shopee, AliExpress, Shein, and Temu. Argentina eliminated tariffs on international ecommerce purchases up to $400 for personal use and raised the tax-exempt purchase limit from $1,000 to $3,000 in December 2024.

Amazon tries to expand Whole Foods鈥� appeal: It added a micro fulfillment center to one site so customers can pick up an array of items when they shop.

That could create an opportunity for secondhand retailers to gain share as shoppers look for ways to save. No wiggle room: Faced with the potential devastation of their manufacturing industries, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, and other countries have signaled their willingness to negotiate with the Trump administration. But it鈥檚 not clear exactly what the government wants.

Go deeper: Want more consumer shopping traffic benchmarking data? PRO+ subscribers have access to Industry KPIs, our collection of more than 400 benchmarks in marketing and retail and ecommerce across a range of industries and countries. Click here for more information.

The boom times for ecommerce and retail have largely passed. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be harder [for retailers] to identify pockets of growth and opportunity. But, the good news is that it鈥檚 not going to be that roller coaster of demand fluctuations that has been challenging for retailers to navigate over the last couple of years,鈥� our analyst Blake Droesch said.

US inflation eased in September, but consumers remain anxious about their finances: Food prices and the cost of living keep shoppers on edge, even as most indicators point to healthy spending.

This can help maintain brand visibility between purchases and boost customer spend over time. 49.4% of US agencies and brand professionals say monitoring spend over time is the best indicator of a loyal ecommerce customer, per January 2025 data from BloomReach. Key takeaway: Sustained engagement is just as important as purchase behavior.

The closure of Big Lots and Party City locations, for example, likely allows their rivals to open up shop in trade zones with a high demand for discounted goods. As mass merchants like Walmart court more affluent shoppers with expanded higher-end offerings and store revamps, that could also provide an opening for chains catering to shoppers seeking lower prices.

The neobank has big credit card aspirations as it looks to become a one-stop shop for financial services, but its new programs may struggle to secure uptake.

Footwear, apparel, and fragrance were the top purchase categories among shoppers ages 18 to 34. Department stores were the No. 1 location for shopping for luxury goods, beating out all ecommerce and brand-owned channels. But the majority (57.4%) of people 18 to 34 were interested in social commerce for shopping for luxury goods, the survey found.