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Inflation causes Gen Z shoppers to rethink when and where they shop: Growing financial strain is forcing shoppers to adjust their spending habits.

Walmart鈥檚 brand refresh reflects its retail evolution: Its visual update accompanies initiatives to enhance ecommerce capabilities and lure more affluent and Gen Z shoppers.

Physical stores matter most for driving awareness. But online, social media platforms outrank multibrand retailers鈥� digital channels in driving product discovery, with the most pronounced impact among Gen Z shoppers.

This week, online reviews convince Gen Zers, Valentine's Day breaks records, and where consumers learn about new products.

Retailers are quickly embracing autonomous AI鈥攕ometimes referred to as agentic AI鈥攖o enhance operations and customer experiences. Gen Z is leading the shift, using AI for discovery and shopping. But to grow adoption across all generations, retailers must build trust through data security and transparency of AI use.

Snapchat beat both TikTok and Instagram in creator-driven shopping

Social commerce is gaining momentum in the UK鈥攚ith sales set to double by 2028鈥攁s major brands join TikTok and as more people shop on social platforms.

Increased time spent on CTV, social video鈥檚 shopping influence, and a larger share of working Gen Zers will give advertisers new opportunities for growth. Here are five charts to help your business understand these changes and kick-start the new year.

This week, small businesses express concerns about President Trump鈥檚 policies, private label brands gain traction, and Gen Z embraces AI for shopping. Meanwhile, TikTok music influences purchases, and excessive advertising drives cart abandonment.

Pinterest鈥檚 AI-driven ad strategy and shopping expansion drive Q4 growth: Revenue surges 18% YoY as Gen Z engagement and ad performance improve.

Instagram shoppers and millennials are top spenders. TikTok shoppers buy most frequently. Gen Z has mixed habits on Facebook and Pinterest.

A lot can happen in a week. Rue21鈥檚 customer overlap with TikTok Shop could position the brand to benefit from a potential TikTok ban. Meanwhile, Gen Z consumers are increasingly choosing alcohol-free lifestyles, reflecting health-conscious preferences. Cost-consciousness drives brand switching, but convenience remains key in purchase decisions. Here are five stats that caught our eye this week.

鈥淯nderconsumption core鈥� trends on TikTok: 3 in 5 Gen Zers are following the trend, leading many to cut back on online shopping.

Value was the name of the game in 2024 as retailers scrambled to keep consumers shopping. But that wasn鈥檛 the only thing on retailers鈥� minds this year.

Gen Z shoppers embrace Temu, Shein, and TikTok Shop: 1 in 4 makes a purchase at a Chinese online marketplace at least once a week, as their array of cheap, trendy goods proves impossible for the price-sensitive cohort to resist.

From Temu鈥檚 rise to their interest in dupes, Gen Z prioritized affordability and convenience in 2024. Gen Z consumers also showed interest in in-person shopping, but crowded stores may be limiting their trips to brick-and-mortar retail.

Social commerce still has plenty of room to expand in the US. With discovery and inspiration as the key characteristics of social commerce, TikTok won鈥檛 be Amazon鈥攂ut it will bring in new Gen Z shoppers.

Gen Z will be the fastest-growing group of digital buyers in 2025. In addition, they鈥檙e more willing than previous generations to switch brands. So, brands and retailers should focus on enticing them while also retaining existing customers.

The National Retail Federation鈥檚 (NRF) Big Show closed earlier this week, bringing together retailers, tech companies, and industry experts to discuss the future of retail. Key takeaways included Gen Z鈥檚 influence on shopping, which will last even if TikTok goes away, the accelerating trend cycle, hesitation to adopt new payment technologies, and the transformation of digital grocery. Here are four takeaways from the event.

Interest is also widespread on the consumer front, with 57% of US shoppers interested in having AI agents purchase recommended products on their behalf, per Salesforce. This share jumps to 81% for Gen Z shoppers. Our take: We expect to see many more agentic AI announcements this year as payment providers and retailers try to stay on the cutting edge.

Over half of Gen Zers discover products primarily on TikTok and Instagram: Google鈥檚 relevance is fading as social search takes over.

Gen Zers are driving growth in both emerging and traditional payment methods as they embrace cards, BNPL, and digital wallets. Payment providers must now align their offerings with Gen Z鈥檚 preferences as the cohort鈥檚 spending power grows.

Gen Zers are most likely to experience a problem with the payment method. These concerns could weaken BNPL transaction growth

Timing ad buys to seize on key engagement windows: Our Industry KPI data reveals Gen Z has predictable spikes in searches for apparel, gaming content.