Analytics

Retail sales rose again in March as consumers received higher-than-usual tax refunds that made up for increased gasoline prices, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions, released by the National Retail Federation (NRF). “Retail sales grew for a sixth consecutive month in March as the first wave of tax refunds offset higher…

After years of rapid growth, new networks launching monthly, and brands eagerly shifting budgets closer to the point of sale, the conversation around retail media has evolved into one of accountability. Advertisers are asking harder questions about what retail media actually delivers, and whether reported performance aligns with real business outcomes. This shift is both…

The Commerce Department's latest U.S. retail sales report — delayed because of last year's government shutdown — shows that Americans spent more than expected in February following three consecutive months of decline. The report comes at a time of extreme consumer wariness: gas prices have reached a national average of $4 a gallon as the…

January often means merchants can finally exhale after the holiday sprint. Demand has normalized, but something feels off. The register was busy. Sales looked good. So why does the bank account tell a different story? If this sounds familiar, you're not alone (and you're not bad at business). You're just experiencing something most small merchants…

U.S. consumers spent nearly $258 billion online during the holiday season lasting from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, according to new data from Adobe. The company said in a press release that was a new record — and beat expectations of $253.4 billion — with consumers spending more than $4 billion in a single day…

With retail sales making a comeback in October — growing a little more than half a percent from last month and 5 percent year-over-year (YoY) — the National Retail Federation (NRF) is predicting that when the holidays are over, U.S. consumers will have spent over $1 trillion.  That represents a 3.7 percent to 4.2 percent…

Amazon.com is the undisputed ruler of retail media, taking up 40 percent of total ad spend in the category with an 18 percent year-over-year growth in its ad revenue in 2024. Big-box retailers like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy, along with top grocers including Albertsons and Kroger, have captured meaningful ad dollars with their retail…

Today’s business environment is rapidly evolving and so are the complexities of the retail supply chain. With so many moving parts that includes suppliers, inventory and logistics, retailers must identify and understand the common pain points and find practical ways to address them. This is best done by taking a data-driven approach to build a…

Retailers are moving fast to incorporate generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) into every corner of their operations. However, there's one major obstacle standing in the way: their data. While most data teams are skilled at managing traditional retail data (e.g., transactional, inventory, etc.), many of the most promising Gen AI use cases rely on unstructured…

A new survey from the National Retail Federation (NRF) released Tuesday reveals that shoppers are already spending for the back-to-school season in the face of looming tariffs and high inflation. The NRF surveyed 7,581 consumers during the first week of July to find out their shopping habits for the fall back-to-school period. The association found…