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The news: Many US adults, especially Gen Zers, are feeling pressure to purchase tech items ahead of expected tariff-led price hikes. 38% of consumers feel influenced to buy tech before costs rise, per CNET鈥檚 2025 Tariff Survey. That pressure has led 11% of shoppers to buy a high-ticket item over $500, though 27% said they will delay big purchases. What鈥檚 at the register?

This sponsored article by PartnerCentric will explore retail and ecommerce insights.

The stablecoin giant is exploring plans to launch a US-specific token and POS solution

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

Michaels looks to attract Party City and Joann鈥檚 shoppers: The crafts retailer expands its selection of party supplies and balloons, while also enhancing its in-store events.

Target isn鈥檛 alone: Nearly 1 in 5 US adults stopped supporting brands that reversed DEI efforts, per March 2025 data from Ad Age and The Harris Poll. The response is sharpest among Gen Z鈥�40% say they鈥檝e walked away from brands over DEI rollbacks, twice the rate of millennials and over four times that of boomers.

The fast-fashion retailer is at risk of being cut off from the US, its largest market, as tariffs and the end of the de minimis exemption threaten its operating model. Unlike competitors Temu and AliExpress, Shein does not have a retail presence in China to fall back on鈥攇iving it limited ability to successfully navigate the tariff environment.

Furniture retail squeezed by high acquisition costs: Industry KPI data shows the sector at a disadvantage as economic uncertainty and tariffs drive up the cost of winning customers.

These ad alliances represent a convergence of the social, creator, and retail media spaces. Creator companies have also deepened relationships with social and retail platforms. Creator content was more effective than all other content types at driving sales from social media, per our March 2024 鈥淯厂 Social Commerce鈥� survey.

Trump quadruples de minimis duties on Chinese imports as trade war escalates rapidly: The new fees will not only erase Shein鈥檚 and Temu鈥檚 price advantage, but also hit US businesses hard.

While the administration鈥檚 evolving policies create uncertainty, we鈥檝e modeled three scenarios for 2025 retail spending鈥攔anging from limited to heavy tariffs. In the heavy tariff scenario, retail sales are projected to decline 1.0% YoY, compared to 2.9% growth under the limited scenario, making it clear that tariffs will significantly slow retail growth.

US tariffs could stall Germany鈥檚 economy this year: GDP is forecast to grow just 0.1% as the duties on autos and other imports curb companies鈥� access to an important growth market.

Vizio boosts Walmart鈥檚 retail media edge: New beta program brings exclusive connected TV inventory under Walmart鈥檚 direct control.

Acadia acquires Crush to expand Amazon-first capabilities: The deal reflects growing demand for full-funnel retail media solutions.

I think 1,200 of their 8,500 US locations, so it's a lot of closures. When you look at the industry as a whole though, I saw a study from USC and UC Berkeley, they were saying about one-third of US retail pharmacies have closed since 2010. Independent ones twice as likely to close as chains, but between 2019 and 2021, the number of drugstores declined in 41 of 50 states.

鈥淲ith more than 18 million homes needed in the United States by 2033, we expect new home construction will be a major driver of Pro planned spend for the next decade,鈥� he said.

The retailer will soon be able to deliver orders in less than 3 hours to 95% of US households, Walmart US CEO John Furner said. It鈥檚 also following in Amazon鈥檚 footsteps with a member-exclusive sale that will take place from April 28 to May 4, which could entice more shoppers to sign up for Walmart+ and boost loyalty at a critical moment.

Retail media networks (RMNs) are expanding beyond retailers' websites and apps, pushing into connected TV (CTV) and in-store displays. As the industry matures, experts predict 2025 will be marked by significant growth in these off-site channels, with new technologies and partnerships reshaping how brands reach consumers throughout their shopping journey.

No matter when or how they land, President Donald Trump鈥檚 tariffs will shake up retail and digital media.

This year, most buyer and sales growth will be driven by TikTok Shop, which will convert over 40% of TikTok users into buyers. Social commerce and retail media will converge as Amazon鈥檚 ad partnerships with the social platforms start to pack a punch.

While Delta noted some opportunities鈥攊ncluding steady interest in international travel from US consumers looking to 鈥済et a reprieve from all the craziness,鈥� as well as solid premium demand鈥攖hose green shoots could quickly wither if the US enters a recession, or if consumers think that a downturn is likely.

That said, the volatility may be driving short-term spending: March electronics and appliance store sales rose 5.9% YoY, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, as consumers rushed to buy before potential price hikes. But that bump is likely to be brief鈥攋ust a blip in a much more sobering retail outlook.

Over a quarter of consumers (27.2%) have subscribed to a company offering prescription medications, according to our December 2023 US Digital Health survey. Regulators are starting to scrutinize some D2C pharma initiatives. Four US senators requested information from Eli Lilly and Pfizer regarding the manufacturers鈥� relationships with contracted telehealth prescribers.