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Darden expects consumers to keep splurging on restaurant meals despite uncertainty: But dining out could be one of the first indulgences to go once tariff-related price hikes take effect.

The landscape: Economic uncertainty from the US-Canada trade war is putting immense pressure on Canadian retailers, as rising prices squeeze household budgets. Consumer confidence plummeted in February to levels last seen during the pandemic, according to The Conference Board of Canada.

US restaurant sales rose just 1.5% YoY in February: That鈥檚 one of the troubling signs in February鈥檚 weaker-than-expected retail sales numbers.

Marketers can use this to recognize high growth areas of investment strategies and acknowledge the uncertainty shown in TikTok investments as a potential nudge to diversify their social ad spend.

Banks must help customers navigate growing economic uncertainty.

Grocery sales shifting online is a lasting legacy of the pandemic: We expect 13.7% of grocery sales to occur online this year, more than double the 6.2% share in prepandemic 2019.

Dick鈥檚 Sporting Goods had its best holiday quarter on record: While Q4 comparable sales soared past expectations, the retailer is tempering its outlook due to geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty.

Trump's tariff policies fuel uncertainty: How brands and retailers can best prepare amid a perpetually shifting landscape.

Amazon takes full creative control of James Bond: The $1 billion deal signals a new era of more frequent and potentially experimental Bond content.

Best Buy faces stiff headwinds: The consumer electronics giant warned of higher prices due to President Trump鈥檚 new tariffs, which will likely crimp demand.

On today鈥檚 special edition podcast, we talk about how brands are rising to the challenge of finding the right influencers and creators for campaigns. Listen to the discussion with Senior Analyst, Minda Smiley, as she hosts N鈥橸aisha Aziz, Global Social Media Lead at Uber, and Rodney Mason, the Head of Marketing and Brand Partnerships at LTK. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

On today鈥檚 podcast episode, we discuss the new challenges facing today鈥檚 CMO and how GenAI, and now AI agents, are transforming the job. Tune in to the conversation with Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, our Analyst Jacob Bourne, and the President of Zeta Global Steven Gerber. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Apple鈥檚 MacBook mostly dodged holiday weakness a few quarters ago, but shipments fell 40.5% compared to the first three months of 2022. This trend could continue throughout the year.

As their clients await the impacts of tariffs, banks set aside money for losses.

SVB leaves void of startup support in its wake: Depositors may get their money back but they鈥檒l lose the go-to institution for young companies accessing capital. Brace for startup failures.

How can brands and retailers succeed in the new era of mobile-first ecommerce?

The future of Super Bowl advertising is multi-platform: Brands are investing in second-screen engagement and digital-first campaigns to maximize impact beyond the game.

VC firms scramble to keep money flowing to climate tech: After a pandemic-era funding boom, economic uncertainty threatens to undermine climate innovation. Recognizing the ROI, VC firms are taking action.

Tech鈥檚 nightmare becomes reality: As Amazon lays off thousands more, the talent bloodletting shows no signs of letting up. It鈥檚 a symptom of impulsivity in the tech industry that could come back to haunt it amid the tight labor market.