蘑菇AV

On today鈥檚 podcast episode, we discuss how advertisers have gone from navigating uncertainty to navigating whiplash, and how they can prioritize and get the most out of ad measurement with a limited budget. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Senior Analysts Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf and Max Willens, and the Director of Product Management at Cint Stephanie Gall. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

The news: US pharma imports returned to normal in April after a March stockpiling of drugs and medical products spurred by tariff threats from the Trump administration. The takeaway: Fluctuating tariff threats from the Trump administration means ongoing uncertainty for drugmakers. If the indecision lags for more than a few months, expect some pharma product stockpiling to return.

The news: Fiserv will acquire the remaining 49.9% stake in AIB Merchant Services, one of Ireland鈥檚 largest payment solutions providers and Europe鈥檚 largest ecommerce acquirers. Our take: Fiserv has to find innovative ways to grow among a competitive POS landscape, rising softPOS adoption, and pervasive economic uncertainty.

The insight: Discounters are experiencing a resurgence as concerns about rising prices and economic stability spur shoppers of all income levels to seek out bargain retailers. Our take: The uncertain environment in many ways benefits Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Five Below, whose value initiatives are enabling them to win spending from cautious consumers. But鈥攁s with the broader retail industry鈥攖ariffs are a costly challenge for all three, particularly as they try to minimize price hikes and maintain their value advantage.

Some may find it easier in this new era of economic uncertainty to capitulate to conservative interests to avoid messy, time- and resource-consuming battles with investors. But doing so could cause them to alienate an important consumer cohort, possibly permanently鈥攚hich could make companies think twice about abandoning DEI.

Travel demand is becoming harder to predict: Consumers are waiting until the last moment to make plans as uncertainty complicates spending decisions.

layers browse, click, and buy real merch inside their favorite games, ushering in a new era of immersive ecommerce.

Amid economic uncertainty and trade concerns from abroad, Canada鈥檚 digital ecosystem is expected to remain strong, fueled by innovation from publishers, advertisers, and retailers.

Uncertainty reigns: The unpredictable nature of tariff policy has injected deep uncertainty into the retail landscape. Retailers are juggling rising input costs, disrupted supply chains, and a near-impossible planning horizon鈥攋ust as they try to navigate inflation and shifting consumer behavior.

Trump administration drops Moderna mRNA pandemic flu research: This adds to increasing doubt around the validity of mRNA vaccines, and will likely cause uncertainty for drugmakers looking to federal agencies for vaccine guidance.

What retailers reaffirming 2025 guidance have in common: Dick鈥檚, Walmart, and Home Depot are cutting supplier costs, diversifying supply chains, and raising prices strategically amid ongoing uncertainty.

The news: A growing number of ad agency professionals are fearful of their job security as the industry consolidates. A recent Adweek survey found that 29% of agency workers believe industry consolidation will negatively impact their jobs, and over one-third are actively considering leaving the industry altogether. These concerns are emerging alongside mounting operational and financial pressure.

Tariff uncertainty puts retailers in a tough spot: Merchants are rushing to import goods, risking excess inventory, shortages, or mismatches with consumer preferences.

Restaurant visits are declining as consumers worry about their finances: Uncertainty is pushing customers to be more discerning about where they spend their food dollars.

President Trump鈥檚 volatile tariff policies have created uncertainty in the advertising market, with forecasters now projecting multiple scenarios for how the rest of 2025 might unfold.

Uncertainty reigns under Trump鈥檚 ever-changing tariff strategy: The threat of a 50% tariff on the EU could drive up the cost of small indulgences like gorgonzola and pricey machinery used in manufacturing.

By the numbers: Over half (53%) of Americans have summer vacation plans, up from 48% last year, with the average consumer planning at least three trips (compared with 2.3 in 2024). While that might seem like good news for the beleaguered hospitality industry, Deloitte鈥檚 travel survey reveals an undercurrent of strain as economic uncertainty threatens consumers鈥� financial security.

Tariffs will upend the status quo: Retailers need to brace themselves for a new era of protectionist trade policies that drive up costs and eat into consumers鈥� spending power.

Clucking strong in a soft market: Chicken-focused restaurants are drawing more visits than other fast-casual chains with a winning formula of value, variety, and innovation.

Ralph Lauren and Canada Goose defied luxury slowdown in Q1: But tariffs and uncertainty could reverse that momentum.

Lowe鈥檚 expects to push past stiff headwinds this year: The retailer maintained its guidance of flat to 1% YoY comparable sales growth despite a stagnant housing market and macro uncertainty.

54% of global marketers are slashing ad spend, says Nielsen: The need for adaptability, rather than bigger budgets, is more prominent than ever.

The EU expects tariffs to weigh on growth this year and next: The bloc downgraded its GDP expectations due to levels of uncertainty 鈥渘ot seen since the darkest moments鈥� of the pandemic.