Earnings season, for the fourth quarter, is moving toward its conclusion. The last few companies will weigh in with their results through the coming days. In roughly a month, it all begins again, as the first quarter reports roll in. And though fewer than three...
By all rights, this should be a season of discontent for the restaurant industry. Among the pressures facing this sector: Icy temperature, concerns about prices, a drop in consumer spending, and the fact that January and February are historically the slowest time of year for...
Generation Z, typically defined as people born between 1997 and 2012, is changing how consumers engage with the health and beauty market, according to PYMNTS data. Unlike older generations, who have traditionally favored in-store shopping for personal care and beauty products, Gen Z is embracing...
High interest rates. Pending tariffs on a wealth of foreign imports. Concerns about mass deportations. Taken together, these factors are all driving a drop in demand for home improvement projects, the Financial Times (FT) reported Sunday (March 2) As that report noted, shares of a...
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon reportedly said Thursday (Feb. 27) that the retailer is seeing signs of stress among consumers due to food prices remaining high. Speaking at the Economic Club of Chicago, McMillon said Walmart sees budget-conscious customers buying smaller pack sizes, being more selective and...
Data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis released Friday (Feb. 28) offers sobering food for thought for merchants, even as the financial standing of consumers improved. A boost in consumers’ income and savings comes at the expense of ringing up sales at the register. Personal...
In the fourth quarter of 2024, increased economic pressures continued to affect households in the United States. With inflation at 2.9% by December, 65% of consumers reported living paycheck to paycheck, indicating ongoing financial strain. The PYMNTS Intelligence report “Struggling Consumers Go to Short-Term Strategies...
In the U.S., mobile phones have become an essential tool for shopping, forever changing how consumers engage with retailers. Mobile-first shopping is no longer a trend, but an expected experience. As smartphones become critical to online and in-store shopping, U.S. merchants need to adjust to the evolving...
Last quarter’s holiday shopping might have represented a burst of consumer optimism at the register that has now been dampened. The souring sentiment is in evidence among young, affluent consumers, who have been the drivers of commerce online and offline. They’re worried in the face...