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
When AI Meets Retail: Opening New Possibilities

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
May ’23 Retail Report: Shoppers Shake Off Uncertainty

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
Are Luxury Goods Just for the Mega Rich?

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,
April ’23 Retail Report: Rising Inventory Levels Bring Risk

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
Hard or Soft Landing? It’s Time to Perform a Stress Test

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
March 2023 Retail Report: Sales Cycle Starts to Flatten

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
Did Pandemic-Related Retail Tech Investments Pay Off?

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
Feb. ’23 Retail Report: Jan. Sales Jump Adds to Uncertainty

The Big Picture Recent U.S. economic indicators point to continued strength in spending and employment, and slowly cooling inflation. However, some fear that the economy is still running a little
Why Menswear Made Gains Over Women’s Wear Last Year

Over the last year and a half we’ve talked about the impressive momentum we’ve seen in menswear sales, in part because women’s wear usually outpaces men’s. Women tend to buy