Consumer Trends

Amazon, J.C. Penney dangle gas-related deals ahead of July 4

At the e-commerce giant, the savings are only for Prime members, while at the department store customers can trade a gas receipt for $10 off.

By Daphne Howland • June 30, 2026

Adult women are driving toy industry growth

Meanwhile, social media is influencing the segment, fueled by ASMR content and unboxing videos. 

By Kaarin Moore • June 30, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Retail's quest to improve the customer experience

From new store concepts to AI-enabled offerings, retailers are constantly shifting their approach to better cater to shopper needs.

By Retail Dive staff

Consumer sentiment rises from record low on prospect of lower inflation

“Inflation likely peaked in May as the worst of the war in Iran energy shock hit consumers,” Navy Federal Credit Union Chief Economist Heather Long said.

By Jim Tyson • June 30, 2026

Amazon’s Prime Day drives online sales in the US up 9.3%

E-commerce spend during this year’s earlier June dates reached $26.4 billion, according to Adobe data.

By Dani James • June 29, 2026

Consumer spending rises as inflation speeds up to three-year high

Traders in interest rate futures see 80% odds that the Federal Reserve will raise the federal funds rate by at least a quarter percentage point by the end of this year.

By Jim Tyson • June 29, 2026

Sephora introduces store quiet hours

The beauty retailer will lower music and screen displays during specific hours following a successful store pilot across eight markets.

By Dani James • June 25, 2026

The Backroom: The weight-loss era is not just about selling clothes

Liza Amlani, principal at Retail Strategy Group, joins us to discuss how retailers and brands can successfully grapple with what she calls “fit volatility.”

By Retail Dive Staff • June 25, 2026

Target launches back-to-school season — and the first test of its turnaround

The retailer is debuting limited-edition collabs, savings on its loyalty program and a refreshed assortment as it competes with Amazon's Prime Day on summertime deals.

By Daphne Howland • June 24, 2026

Coach unites celebrities, Gen Z storytelling under new brand platform

Developed with Gen Z input, &Coach tries to break from fixed luxury campaign narratives to focus on co-authorship.

By Peter Adams • June 17, 2026

Consumer sentiment rises from 4-month slump as gas prices fall

Consumers are “still seeing a lot of risks on the horizon,” according to Joanne Hsu, director of consumer surveys at the University of Michigan.  

By Jim Tyson • June 15, 2026

Consumer pain worsens as inflation hits 3-year high

Ending the Iran war could help ease the pressure, but the worst is likely still to come for categories like food, according to economists.

By Daphne Howland • June 10, 2026

Why marketers must rethink loyalty as AI reshapes consumer connections

Over half of consumers are comfortable filtering their brand communications entirely through AI, according to research from Gale.

By Peter Adams • June 10, 2026

Beauty shoppers are hunting for value. Dollar stores are ready.

The category — which continued to grow in Q1 — has become more relevant to Dollar Tree in recent years, the retailer’s chief merchant told Retail Dive.

By Dani James • June 10, 2026

Nike and Adidas take their rivalry to the World Cup. Who will win?

The brands are both at a crossroads, and their campaign centerpieces play up soccer bona fides alongside the sport’s stars and other pop icons.

By Chris Kelly • June 9, 2026

How brands are celebrating 250 years of America amid political polarization

Major marketers looking to engage U.S. consumers around the milestone must prove their bona fides or risk looking like bandwagoners.

By Chris Kelly • June 8, 2026

Five Below nixes ‘Five Beyond’ store section

The retailer — which reported a 32% sales bump for Q1 thanks to viral squishy toys — moved the higher-priced inventory in line with the rest of the store.

By Dani James • June 4, 2026

Ulta’s prestige beauty shines despite consumer pressure

The retailer's sales jumped 11% in Q1 with the help of higher-end offerings. Meanwhile, the company is plotting an experiential store in New York City.

By Dani James • June 3, 2026

Dollar General sales soar as customers trade down at ‘accelerated’ rate

The discount retailer’s Q1 sales jumped 3.4% as rural shoppers see an outsized impact from increased gas prices.

By Dani James • June 2, 2026

Amazon reveals Prime Day dates

The e-commerce company moved the event to June, and is encouraging shoppers to use its Alexa for Shopping AI tech.

By Kaarin Moore • June 2, 2026

Mass retailers draw level with supermarkets as primary grocery destinations

People have become just as likely to cite a retailer like Walmart or Target as a supermarket when asked where they spend most of their food budget, according to data from FMI.

By Sam Silverstein • June 2, 2026

Fashion misses at Old Navy spell trouble for Gap Inc.

Internal flubs, not customer malaise, were the cause and have been addressed, Gap Inc. CEO Richard Dickson said Thursday. But is competition from off price a growing problem for the value brand?

By Daphne Howland • May 29, 2026

Consumer sentiment falls to new low; cost of living ‘first-order’ worry

A sustained rise in long-run inflation expectations would likely increase the odds that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates.

By Jim Tyson • May 29, 2026

Dollar Tree CEO: ‘Our model is built for environments like this’

Customers are shopping the discount retailer with a focus on affordability, convenience and trip efficiency to stretch their budgets.

By Kaarin Moore • May 29, 2026

Another strong quarter for Dick’s quells some Foot Locker fears

The Foot Locker business posted its first positive comps since late 2024 and the company raised guidance for both banners.

By Cara Salpini • May 27, 2026

Target, Walmart vie for beauty customers

The retailers are investing in ways to court beauty consumers away from specialty retailers, trying new staffing models and remixing the merchandising assortment.

By Dani James • May 27, 2026