Consumer Trends

  • The storefront of an Ikea in Charlotte, NC
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    Nate Delesline III/Retail Dive
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    How Bob’s, Ikea are bucking the trend of furniture retail stagnation

    The segment, which grew during the height of the pandemic, has been contracting. However, value players are opening locations — and poised to take market share.

    By Shefali Kapadia • June 18, 2025
  • A woman in a lavender jumpsuit sits on one hip staring into the distance
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    Courtesy of Nuuly
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    Nuuly is dominating the apparel rental market

    The company has more than double the number of active subscribers as Rent the Runway, its next-largest U.S. apparel subscription competitor, according to Wells Fargo analysts.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 16, 2025
  • A woman puts clothing into an RFID self-checkout kiosk Explore the Trendline➔
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    Thai Liang Lim via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    How retailers are deploying in-store technology

    Payment systems, self-checkout stations and home visualization tech are just a few of the areas getting attention from retailers as they rethink the store experience.

    By Retail Dive staff
  • A woman in a bright red suit stands with a hand in her long, curly hair.
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    Courtesy of Isima
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Michaels rolls out Summerween and Shakira’s beauty brand debuts

    The crafts retailer is releasing Halloween decor earlier than ever, while the pop star’s Isima line will launch at Ulta Beauty.

    By Retail Dive Staff • June 13, 2025
  • A range of colorful personal care product containers on a beige background.
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    Courtesy of Bdy
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    Tree Hut gets a ‘grown-up’ sister brand

    Bdy emphasizes high-quality, affordable products and uses skin care-inspired ingredients to address common concerns like dryness and uneven tone.

    By Howard Ruben • June 13, 2025
  • A yellow school bus is parked outside. A handful of students wearing rain jackets and backpacks are getting on the bus.
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    FatCamera via Getty Images
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    For more consumers, back-to-school shopping starts now

    Many parents consider this year to be “financially challenging” or “stressful,” in part due to price hikes, according to a survey. 

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 10, 2025
  • A person with white wired headphones and a white bag stands outside a clothing store.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Lululemon to raise prices as progress stalls in the US

    As the retailer plans modest tariff-induced price hikes, CEO Calvin McDonald said U.S. shoppers are growing more "discerning" than those in Canada.

    By • June 6, 2025
  • The Nike "swoosh" on the side of a building, with another building seen behind it.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Nike appoints innovation chief and retailers face cyberattacks

    The athletics retailer filled in the role behind John Hoke, while Victoria’s Secret, Adidas and The North Face have recently reported security breaches.

    By Retail Dive Staff • June 6, 2025
  • Interior of Lego store.
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    Courtesy of Lego
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    Adults boost US toy sales

    Consumers are either paying more for pricier toys or opting for lower-cost products, but mid-tier options are feeling a pinch, according to a Circana report.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • June 5, 2025
  • A person walks by a Dollar Tree store.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Wealthier consumers flock to Dollar Tree in Q1

    The discounter, which is better positioned against rival Dollar General without its Family Dollar unit, is expanding a multiprice strategy to more stores.

    By • June 4, 2025
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Deep Dive

    What went wrong at Target?

    The mass merchant is looking to turn around falling sales and declining customer sentiment. But first, it needs to diagnose its own problems.

    By Dani James • June 2, 2025
  • Exterior of an Ulta store
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    Kaarin Vembar/Retail Dive
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    Ulta sees signs of improvement in Q1, but stays cautious

    While beauty is generally recession-proof, executives said the category is not “immune to consumer pressure” and customers could pull back.

    By • May 30, 2025
  • A large cardboard box sits on a welcome mat on the front porch of a house.
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    Courtesy of Amazon
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    Tariffs are likely to drive Prime Day purchases

    Consumers are looking to stock up on essentials and other goods as fears of tariff-driven price increases loom, according to a recent Tinuiti survey.

    By Howard Ruben • May 30, 2025
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    Kendall Davis/Retail Dive
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    Podcast

    The Backroom: Breaking down Dick’s Sporting Goods’ deal to acquire Foot Locker

    The team discusses the implications of the surprise acquisition, how Dick’s is defending it and why the stakes could be different for each retailer.

    By Retail Dive Staff • May 29, 2025
  • A person carrying a tote bag looks at items on a grocery store shelf
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Consumer pessimism eases amid cooling in US-China tariff war

    The share of consumers expecting a recession over the next 12 months fell in May, the Conference Board said.

    By Jim Tyson • May 28, 2025
  • Makeup containers, including powder compacts and makeup brushes, scattered against a blue background
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    misuma via Getty Images
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    Mass-market beauty sales growth exceeds prestige in Q1

    It’s the first time in several years that mass brands have outpaced prestige, though the softening for high-end beauty brands corrected itself in March.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • May 27, 2025
  • A person walks through an aisle within a Home Depot store.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Home Depot doesn’t plan to raise prices despite tariffs

    The announcement came as the home improvement retailer posted a 9.4% sales gain in Q1 and reaffirmed its full-year guidance.

    By • May 20, 2025
  • A stack of $20 U.S. bills lay on top of a scattering of more $20 bills.
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    Maksym Kapliuk via Getty Images
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    Inflation expected to surge to 7.3% in a year, fueled by tariff worry

    Consumer sentiment has slumped this year even as recent “hard data” reveal stable prices and robust hiring.

    By Jim Tyson • May 19, 2025
  • People walking down the street.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Why retail’s e-commerce disruption era is over

    Brick-and-mortar stores drive the vast majority of core retail sales, and that won’t change any time soon, according to a report from commercial real estate firm Colliers.

    By • May 12, 2025
  • A woman holds a phone displaying social media apps.
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    Roni Bintang via Getty Images
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    Consumers waffle over using social, generative AI to shop

    Customers may not be comfortable with advanced shopping tech and allowing AI to analyze their personal data, according to a KPMG report. 

    By • April 30, 2025
  • A person holds a credit card and sits with a laptop on her lap. The screen is open to show a shopping website.
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    FG Trade via Getty Images
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    Online retailers in the US spent an average of $400k on AI last year

    Despite aiming that investment at customer experience, 30% of executives told Storyblok that the tech only slightly improved the shopper’s experience.

    By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 29, 2025
  • Shoppers look through a store closing sale at Macy's.
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    Cara Salpini/Retail Dive
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    Consumer expectations plunge at fastest pace since 1990 recession

    “Some measures of expectations on both the business and consumer fronts look outright recessionary,” Goldman Sachs Chief Economist Jan Hatzius said.

    By Jim Tyson • April 28, 2025
  • A person looks very closely at a items on a shelf.
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    97 via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Retail’s latest tariff challenge? Setting prices.

    New levies are shaping up to be a holiday tax on consumers already touchy about spending. Careful analysis and clear communication are key.

    By • April 28, 2025
  • Adidas store in Shanghai
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    Courtesy of Adidas
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    Column

    The Weekly Closeout: Coty to cut 700 jobs, Adidas sports double-digit growth

    The cutbacks are part of the beauty conglomerate’s strategic transformation, while preliminary Q1 results show momentum from the sports retailer.

    By Retail Dive Staff • April 25, 2025
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    Kendall Davis/Retail Dive
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    Podcast

    The Backroom: Talking tariffs with Supply Chain Dive

    Trade policy is ever-evolving, and hitting the retail industry especially hard. Phil Neuffer, senior editor at our sister publication, talks about covering the issue and where things stand today.

    By Retail Dive Staff • April 24, 2025
  • A person with white wired headphones and a white bag stands outside a clothing store.
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    Daphne Howland/Retail Dive
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    Most consumers will pay 25% more for their favorite brands

    Positive customer experiences, consistent product quality and long-term brand familiarity drive greater loyalty, a UserTesting study found.

    By Michael Brady • April 23, 2025