One-third of consumers plan to use AI for holiday shopping

Customers are using AI tools to search for better deals and gift ideas, but they remain skeptical of the technology, a UserTesting survey found.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 2, 2025

More than a quarter of consumers plan to cut holiday spending

Only 22% of shoppers are expecting to spend more this holiday season compared to last year, according to a recent report from Experian.

By Howard Ruben • Oct. 1, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

How retailers can win over shoppers during the holidays

Retailers are pulling all the levers to drive loyalty during the industry’s all-important quarter.

By Retail Dive staff

Target plots retail, marketing blitz around ‘Stranger Things’ final season

Target is the only retailer running a national campaign developed directly with Netflix and featuring on-screen talent from the show.

By Peter Adams • Oct. 1, 2025

How retailers are hiring for the 2025 holiday season

In a year already marked by job cuts, and with the busiest shopping season ahead, tariffs and depressed consumer spending could mean fewer hires. 

By Retail Dive Staff • Sept. 30, 2025

Spirit Christmas to open 30 locations

The company, a spinoff of Spirit Halloween, tested stores last year. This year, it is nearly quadrupling its footprint. 

By Kaarin Moore • Sept. 29, 2025

Target introduces in-store toy demos, kids’ catalog for the holidays

The retailer is also highlighting thousands of toys it will offer under $20, as a way to emphasize value.  

By Kaarin Moore • Sept. 26, 2025

The Backroom: How the holidays are different this year

Heading into the season, shoppers and retailers alike are getting squeezed by tariffs and mounting economic uncertainty.

By Retail Dive Staff • Sept. 25, 2025

Retail’s seasonal hiring could hit lowest point since 2009

Challenger, Gray & Christmas predicts that retailers will bring on fewer than 500,000 employees in Q4, a low last seen following the 2008 financial crisis.

By Dani James • Sept. 24, 2025

Halloween spending to hit record $13.1B

While the majority of consumers anticipate price increases this season due to tariffs, 73% still plan to participate, according to the National Retail Federation.

By Howard Ruben • Sept. 24, 2025

Managing tariff impact gets tougher as the holidays approach

Lower-income households are especially worried about employment and higher prices — and prices are indeed rising.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 23, 2025

Walmart, Target bring back October deals events

To entice consumers to shop early, the mass merchants join Amazon and others in kicking off the holiday season with sales events next month.

By Dani James • Sept. 23, 2025

Kohl’s expands fall sales event to 4 days

The department store is offering deals on thousands of products across apparel, beauty and more online and in stores.

By Howard Ruben • Sept. 22, 2025

AI shopping tools are evolving, but are they ready for the holidays?

Most consumers are open to generative AI-powered guidance, but only 3% will start their shopping journey with a ChatGPT-type search, according to Coveo.

By Bryan Wassel • Sept. 22, 2025

Macy’s kicks off ‘100 Days to Christmas’ with new merchandise, curated gift ideas

The department store, which said its holiday assortment features more than 40% newness, will also expand its experiential Holiday Square concept.

By Howard Ruben • Sept. 19, 2025

The holidays should be OK for retailers that try hard enough

Sustaining robust sales growth into Q4 will mean sharp vendor negotiations — and a keen understanding of the customer, analysts say.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 17, 2025

Holiday retail sales projected to grow 4%, below 10-year average

While in-store sales are expected to grow 2.75% from last year, e-commerce sales growth is slowing, according to a recent report from Bain & Company.

By Howard Ruben • Sept. 17, 2025

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event returns in October

The sale, which marks the company’s kickoff to the holiday shopping season, is scheduled for Oct. 7 and Oct. 8. 

By Kaarin Moore • Sept. 16, 2025

Target doubles new merchandise, expands next-day delivery for the holidays

The mass retailer, which is in the midst of a turnaround, will also bring back its Target Circle Week savings event in October.

By Dani James • Sept. 16, 2025

How J.C. Penney is preparing for the holidays with laugh-out-loud deals

Marketing chief Marisa Thalberg discusses how marketers can engage holiday shoppers amid economic uncertainty.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 15, 2025

Gen Z pullback could send holiday sales down 5%: PwC

Older generations are cutting back a bit or even spending more, but these younger consumers’ budgets are down nearly a quarter, the firm found.

By Daphne Howland • Sept. 11, 2025

Holiday sales could grow up to 3.4%: Deloitte

The firm predicts that sales between November and January could reach $1.62 trillion, with e-commerce sales projected to grow up to 9%.

By Howard Ruben • Sept. 10, 2025

Consumer sentiment declines as price sensitivity persists

Consumers are tightening their purse strings and prioritizing essentials while cutting back on discretionary goods.

By Kristen Doerer • Sept. 8, 2025

De minimis’ end: How shippers are adapting for peak season and beyond

Experts foresee hurdles in both pricing and logistics for importers that have relied on the duty exemption for sub-$800 goods.

By Max Garland • Sept. 4, 2025

Walmart ties marketplace to stores, debuts AI seller tools

The retailer is piloting brick-and-mortar access to online sellers and reducing some fees for top selling products ahead of the holidays.

By Dani James • Aug. 27, 2025

Macy’s partners with Amazon for retail ads ahead of holiday season

The retailer will pilot Amazon Retail Ads Service, which allows the tech giant to serve as a third-party provider of ad-serving capabilities.

By Aaron Baar • Aug. 27, 2025