Retail news and trends

Luxury Mystery Boxes Turn Shopping Into a $500 Surprise

October 31, 2026
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Snack Giant Mondelez Says Inflation Pressure Drives Global Demand for Smaller Packs
Earnings // October 30, 2026

Mondelez International saw broad-based demand for its snack foods in the third quarter, despite concerns about inflation and the cost of living in both developed and emerging markets, Chairman and CEO Dirk Van de Put said in a Thursday (Oct. 29) press release. Worldwide, Mondelez’s net revenues were up 2.3%...

The RealReal Competes for the Decisions Behind Luxury Purchases
Earnings // October 30, 2026

Luxury resale platform The RealReal reported record quarterly GMV, revenue and orders for the third quarter, prompting it to raise its full-year outlook, according to the company’s Q3 earnings call Thursday (Oct. 29). Revenue increased 19% year over year while GMV grew 23%. Adjusted EBITDA...

Amazon Wins 59% of AI-Assisted Purchases as Checkout Becomes the Prize
eCommerce // October 30, 2026

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is doing something that years of retail competition struggled to accomplish. It is teaching consumers to start shopping somewhere other than Amazon. The catch? AI just isn’t teaching them to stop buying there. And that disconnect may be one of the...

Kohl’s Embeds Klarna Payment Options Ahead of Holiday Shopping Season
BNPL // October 29, 2026

Kohl’s shoppers in the United States can now access Klarna’s flexible payment options when paying online or in the Kohl’s app, Klarna said in a Thursday (Oct. 29) press release. The Klarna payment options available to Kohl’s shoppers include paying all at once with Pay...

Interviews & Exclusives
AI Shoppers Emerge as Distinct UAE Customer Segment

October 26, 2026
A merchant can add another digital shopping channel without necessarily changing the customer it serves. Artificial intelligence (AI) shopping presents a different reality, as the consumers using it behave differently from the average shopper. UAE consumers who used AI in their most recent purchase average 37 buying-related digital shopping days per month, compared with 30 […]

Walmart and Amazon Expand AI Agents’ Roles in Shopping and Work

October 22, 2026
It was a big week for agentic artificial intelligence at Walmart and Amazon as the two companies outlined plans to capitalize on the technology’s momentum among consumers and enterprises. Walmart...

AI Recommendations Need a Checkout Shoppers Trust

October 22, 2026
Artificial intelligence is making it easier for retailers to get discovered. It is doing considerably less to help them get paid. Data in the October 2026 edition of the Consumer...

21% of Financially Stressed Grocery Shoppers Use Digital Wallets

October 20, 2026
Grocery shoppers under financial pressure are spending more per purchase, giving retailers an opportunity to help households manage bigger bills with more flexible ways to shop and pay. That’s a...

Quick Reads
Snack Giant Mondelez Says Inflation Pressure Drives Global Demand for Smaller Packs

October 30, 2026
Mondelez International saw broad-based demand for its snack foods in the third quarter, despite concerns about inflation and the cost of living in both developed and emerging markets, Chairman and CEO Dirk Van de Put said in a Thursday (Oct. 29) press release. Worldwide, Mondelez’s net revenues were up 2.3% year over year to $9.97 billion in the third quarter, according to […]

The RealReal Competes for the Decisions Behind Luxury Purchases

October 30, 2026
Luxury resale platform The RealReal reported record quarterly GMV, revenue and orders for the third quarter, prompting it to raise its full-year outlook, according to the company’s Q3 earnings call...

Kohl’s Embeds Klarna Payment Options Ahead of Holiday Shopping Season

October 29, 2026
Kohl’s shoppers in the United States can now access Klarna’s flexible payment options when paying online or in the Kohl’s app, Klarna said in a Thursday (Oct. 29) press release....

EBay Courts Recommerce Customers as Revenue Rises 14%

October 29, 2026
EBay is leaning into generative artificial intelligence and specialized commerce to drive engagement amid double-digit revenue growth. The eCommerce marketplace reported third-quarter earnings results Wednesday (Oct. 28), showing revenue of...