Circana’s Post

Retail sales activity surrounding the 2024 Easter season reveals so much more than holiday shopping activity.  🛒🛍️ “Current #retail purchase patterns are being led by the consumer,” says Circana's Marshal Cohen. Are these lasting changes, or merely short-terms reactions to cumulative financial impacts and looming concerns? Get the full story below 👇 #Easter #retail #toys

Retail sales performance is beginning to show signs of stabilization. ⚖ Shoppers are striking a balance in their budgets and are responding to promotions. 💳 However, it is only the older consumers who are increasing their discretionary retail spending. ⭐ As Circana’s Marshal Cohen points out, consumers are willing to spend when the right price aligns with their current needs. 💡 Retail marketers need to think about how to address those unique moments with consumers across all age groups. #RetailSales #RetailTrends #ShopperBehavior

💳 🛍 May's Retail Surge: Retail sales soared by 1.35% month-over-month, highlighted in the latest CNBC/National Retail Federation Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions. A standout performance was seen in online sales, which leapt by an impressive 17.91% YoY, demonstrating the growing consumer preference for digital shopping experiences. Want to understand what’s fueling this shift and its impact on other retail categories? Read more to uncover the consumer trends driving the retail market forward. https://lnkd.in/er_h8sh9 #retailintelligence #consumerpurchaseinsights #onlineshopping

While many c-store shoppers are feeling a pinch from tighter credit and inflation, the National Retail Federation (NRF) forecast that U.S. retail sales this year will increase between 2.5% and 3.5%. With shoppers citing affordable prices and in-stock products as the top requirements for a positive in-store experience, read more about why it’s imperative for retailers to offer consumers the products they want at the prices they’re willing to pay. #convenience #conveniencestores #cstore #retail #retailers #consumers #consumershopping #forecast #downtrading

Retail sales saw a boost in July, thanks to back-to-school shopping and special promotions. According to the CNBC/National Retail Federation Retail Monitor, sales were up 0.74% from June and 0.92% compared to last year. Online shopping, health and personal care, and clothing stores led the gains. Despite cautious spending, consumers are still finding value in essentials, keeping sales strong. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gTqSCqMi

Consumer spending warnings ahead of major retailers’ earnings reports this week and next week: Placer.ai released store visits data for 1Qtr2024, and it looks like visits to only discounters increased compared to last year. According to the report, the following retailers saw visits increase in the first quarter: Walmart, Sam's Club, Target, Costco Wholesale, BJ's Wholesale Club, Ross Stores, Inc., TJMaxx, MARSHALLS LLC, HomeSense, etc. Store visits decreases, for example, include the home improvement category The Home Depot and Lowe's Companies, Inc. In 2024, Easter fell on Sunday, March 31, earlier than usual, so you can’t look at individual month’s sales and traffic to determine the health of consumers this year. Looking at the full first quarter gives you a more accurate read of retail performance. The National Retail Federation estimated that consumer spending increased 2.5% in the first quarter compared to last year, which did not keep pace with inflation.

Consumer confidence is still low, but that doesn't appear to be stopping retailers from gearing up for better times hopefully ahead. Some information on October retail sales figures in the link below. #commercialrealestate #retail #christmasshopping

January #retailsales from the ONS appear great, but lack credibility - values +3.9%, volumes +3.4% MoM. Did we really buy and spend more in a non-descript dreary month than we did at #Xmas? Of course not, if you delve properly into the data. More credible is the return to positive volume growth in #grocery (+0.6%) and the steep -200bps decline in #online penetration to 24.8%. #knightfrank #kfretail #highstreet #retail #ecommerce #supermarkets #retailproperty #retailrealestate https://lnkd.in/gA3YmxDt

In a landscape where consumer sentiment rebounds but retail sales tread cautiously, the industry braces for another year of nuanced challenges and opportunities. While the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment survey shows an uptick, retail sales in 2023 merely treaded water, reflecting cautious consumer behavior amidst economic uncertainties. However, retailers are showcasing resilience and adaptability. Earnings reports unveil a fascinating trend: while sales growth may not be uniform across the board, many retailers are witnessing significant improvements in gross margins, fueled by strategic pricing and enhanced supply chain efficiencies post-Covid. Forecasts suggest a continuation of this stable trajectory, with moderate sales growth anticipated for 2024, in sync with inflation rates. But what truly defines today's retail landscape? It's the evolving consumer behavior. Shoppers, increasingly savvy and price-conscious, seek value and deals, reshaping retail strategies and preferences. I agree with the idea of consumers remaining wary of broader economic shifts and political uncertainties, such as the upcoming presidential election. Yet, as we navigate through this year, the industry remains resilient, adaptive, and ever-responsive. https://lnkd.in/eDvSibtj

Despite economic concerns, U.S. consumers are continuing to spend, with retail sales for September up 0.7% compared to August and 3.1% higher than one year ago. This has given retailers hope for a positive holiday shopping season. In particular, categories such as restaurants and bars, nonstore (including digital sales), and discount stores remain strong, up 9.7%, 6.2%, and 4.3% respectively.  While some sectors such as electronics and furniture have experienced a downturn, the resilience and adaptability of U.S. consumers suggest a promising path forward for consumer spending. #consumerpurchasing #retailers