Year: 2023

The Big Picture Overall retail sales continue to be steady this summer, with June representing a 0.2% increase over the previous month. May sales were also revised higher with a

Meteorologists are already warning that 2023 looks to be the hottest year on record, and the prolonged and extreme weather we are seeing across parts of the U.S. have underscored

The Big Picture Overall retail sales notched up by 0.3% in May compared to April, and made a 1.6% gain over last year. Early summer travel accounted for some of

While the emergence of ChatGTP has pushed artificial intelligence (AI) into the headlines, this technology has been used for some time in retail environments to help us better understand consumer

The Big Picture Overall retail sales rose by 0.4% last month, coming in equal to the increase in consumer prices. This means that consumption barely caught up with inflation. Although

Since China lifted its COVID-related lockdowns earlier this year, the luxury market has rebounded. Chinese consumers are buying more luxury goods at home, but especially in Europe. As a result,

The Big Picture March’s inflation figure of 5% growth was the lowest rate in two years, as food and energy prices fell slightly. However, housing costs remain stubbornly high, which

Now that one of the longest sales streaks we’re ever recorded has begun to cool, it’s time to prepare for a landing. It could be a soft landing, as we

The Big Picture It has been a bumpy few weeks in the U.S. economy, with regional bank failures, continuing high inflation numbers, and market uncertainty. While retail sales cooled, dropping

When the world shut down in the early months of 2020 many retailers looked to technology to keep their businesses afloat. E-commerce investments, lifestream selling, and curbside pickup became key