Consumer Trends

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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Hudson’s Bay hunts for a buyer and tariffs hit apparel hard

    The department store is soliciting offers for part or all of its business. Meanwhile, one analyst said new tariffs put “all 2025 guidance at risk.”

    By Retail Dive Staff • April 4, 2025
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Fashion industry reacts to sweeping tariff changes

    Experts say the new policies are likely to raise prices and weaken consumer confidence, and are unlikely to bring U.S. manufacturing back.

    By Lara Ewen • April 4, 2025
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    Trendline

    How the payments landscape is changing

    As the space rapidly shifts, the future is for anyone's taking. 

    By Retail Dive staff
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    kali9 via Getty Images
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    NRF expects ‘slower trajectory for consumer spending’ in 2025 as tariffs fuel uncertainty, inflation fears

    Retail sales could grow 3.7% at best — or well under 3% — as many consumers reach the limits of their spending power, the trade group said.

    By • April 3, 2025
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Trump installs 10% baseline tariff, country-specific duties

    The president said he will levy import taxes on China, Japan and others equal to half of what they charge the U.S. based on White House calculations.

    By Philip Neuffer • April 3, 2025
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    Permission granted by Shoptalk
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    Retail leaders sound off on AI’s use-cases

    From Toys R Us’ experimentation with video to Meta’s new ad capabilities, here’s how the tech is being used across the industry.

    By • April 2, 2025
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Consumer spending during Q1 to shrink for first time since pandemic

    “Stockpiling ahead of potential tariff implementation on a wide range of consumer goods could lead to a pullback in goods spending later this year,” the Conference Board said.

    By Jim Tyson • April 1, 2025
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    Igor Alecsander via Getty Images
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    A look back on COVID-19’s impact on retail

    The pandemic has had lasting effects on the industry, including altering operations and resetting consumer expectations.

    By Retail Dive Staff • March 31, 2025
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    Consumers are buying more from generative AI’s suggestions: Adobe

    A report highlighted that using generative AI tools for shopping leads customers to more purchases in electronics and jewelry.

    By • March 27, 2025
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    Courtesy of Levi's
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    Levi’s CEO: ‘If the wallet’s tighter, then we have to work harder’

    Pickier shoppers just means higher execution is needed from the denim brand, Michelle Gass said. But a little help from Beyoncé never hurts.

    By • March 27, 2025
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    Courtney Hale via Getty Images
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    Consumer expectations for future plunge to 12-year low on tariff anxiety

    Pessimism about price pressures rose, with expectations for inflation in 12 months increasing to 6.2% this month from 5.8% in February, the Conference Board said.

    By Jim Tyson • March 25, 2025
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    Gen Alpha tweens hold significant sway over parents’ purchases: study

    Gen Alpha is emerging as a luxury-focused generation, with 68% owning a luxury product by the age of 10.

    By Sara Karlovitch • March 25, 2025
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    5 years after pandemic lockdowns, is retail back to normal?

    Stores are open, inventory is flowing and inflation is down. But today’s uncertainty and destabilization are making consumers anxious.

    By • March 24, 2025
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    Target adds 2,000 products to baby assortment

    The revamp is the latest over the last year as the retailer focuses on newness to grow share across its merchandising portfolio.

    By • March 21, 2025
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Walmart expands premium beauty options

    The retail giant also announced the four brands that will participate in its third beauty accelerator program, Walmart Start.

    By • March 21, 2025
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    Bevan Goldswain via Getty Images
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    Resale’s popularity in the US could offer hedge against tariffs

    ThredUp’s chief strategy officer says preowned clothing sales are “effectively domesticating the supply chain.”

    By Lara Ewen • March 21, 2025
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    Courtesy of Target
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    E-commerce is here to stay after a push from the pandemic

    Retailers quickly enhanced their e-commerce and mobile offerings as the pandemic took hold. It worked, shifting consumer expectations along the way.

    By • March 20, 2025
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Old Navy quietly debuts occasionwear

    Prices start at about $25, answering demand for affordable dresses for weddings, parties and proms.

    By • March 19, 2025
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    Brothers91 via Getty Images
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    Tariffs trigger ‘horrific’ plunge in consumer sentiment

    Federal Reserve officials, scheduled to assess monetary policy this week, will likely zero in on a jump in long-term inflation expectations.

    By Jim Tyson • March 17, 2025
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    Courtesy of The Container Store
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    Retail’s home sector has yet to find steady ground

    The category experienced both highs and lows since the pandemic hit. But as sales start to tick up once again, retailers face new challenges.

    By • March 17, 2025
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    Kaarin Vembar/Retail Dive
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    US immigration policy could hurt off-pricers

    Burlington, TJX and Ross stand to benefit from tariffs and consumer angst, but one of their most important customer bases is under extreme pressure.

    By • March 13, 2025
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    Courtesy of Amazon
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    Majority of Americans have yet to try Amazon Haul

    Three months after its launch, 16% of shoppers use the site at least monthly, compared to 23% and 28% who do the same at Shein and Temu.

    By • March 10, 2025
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    SolStock via Getty Images
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    Retailers are pushing payment modernization as customers ask for more

    A KPMG survey found that a majority of retailers plan to keep updating their payment programs to keep up with consumer tech demands.

    By • March 6, 2025
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    Caitlin Mullen/Retail Dive, data courtesy of Industry Dive employee Caitlin Mullen
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    Gen Z used BNPL more than credit cards over holidays, survey shows

    It was the first J.D. Power survey to show that buy now, pay later overtook credit card use among that demographic.

    By Patrick Cooley • March 4, 2025
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    Courtesy of Walmart
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    Inflation continues to drive private label growth

    Gen Z and millennial shoppers are particularly interested in store brands as they seek out both value and quality, per a Circana study.

    By Howard Ruben • March 3, 2025
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    What 5 charts say about the pandemic’s impact on retail, 5 years later

    The industry may be far from the dramatic day-to-day struggles of 2020, but it hasn’t yet escaped the long tail the global health crisis left in its wake.

    By • March 3, 2025