A blanket tariff by the U.S. on Canadian imports is unlikely to materialize early next year despite rhetoric from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump. Still, the mere prospect of new tariffs has caused considerable anxiety in Canada. Such a move would have dire economic implications on both ... READ MORE >
Consumer products
Holiday season business insights: Digital sales shine in early numbers
Initial holiday sales numbers reveal single-digit year-over-year growth driven by robust e-commerce activity. Total U.S. online sales during cyber week (Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday) rose by 8.2%, with a notable 7.3% increase on Cyber Monday alone, according to Adobe Analytics. Mastercard also ... READ MORE >
Holiday season business insights: Bright outlook for spending
Robust wage growth over the past two years, coupled with improved price stability, has positioned American consumers advantageously for the holiday season. This favorable situation is likely to stimulate significant holiday spending as shoppers take advantage of savings opportunities throughout this ... READ MORE >
Higher tariffs are likely coming; consumer businesses should prepare
As consumer products companies look to a new Trump administration, higher tariffs are most likely on the way. Businesses that prepare now, even as they wait for the tariffs to take shape, will be better positioned to maximize their margins. For example, businesses can adjust to smaller tariffs through ... READ MORE >
Holiday season business insights: Shorter season, early shopping and fast shipping
While consumers’ spending power is moderating, shoppers still expect to pay more than they did last holiday season. A shorter holiday season leading to compressed shipping timelines will create challenges for consumers eager to buy gifts for their families. State of the consumer Consumer spending was a ... READ MORE >
Back-to-school recap: Buying trends set tone for retail holiday season
In our final installment of our three-part blog series, RSM’s senior industry analysts recap back-to-school shopping trends and the impact on consumer businesses. As summer draws to a close, families across the country prepared for the back-to-school season, a critical time for retailers as it set the ... READ MORE >
Consumer sentiment rebounds in August
Consumer sentiment rose for the first time in five months, according to the University of Michigan’s survey in August. The increase is driven by the jump in expectations as consumer sentiment about the next 12 months look better. The topline sentiment index is up to 67.8 from 66.4 in July, with the ... READ MORE >
Robust July retail sales defy growth scare
While robust July retail sales numbers might come as a surprise given the various pressures on American consumers, the data was very well in line with our forecasts ahead of the Thursday data release from the Commerce Department. Further disinflation and 15 consecutive months of positive real wage growth ... READ MORE >
Consumer products M&A: Cautious buyers limit activity
The first half of 2024 continued the downward trajectory of consumer products deal volumes. Cautious buyers weighed economic and political uncertainty, a softening consumer, and the lack of clarity on the timing and extent of interest rates against continued high seller expectations and limited ... READ MORE >
Back-to-school outlook: Price sensitivity creates consumer spending shifts
In our second installment of our three-part blog series, RSM’s senior industry analyst explores back-to-school shopping trends and the impact on consumer businesses. Even as inflation has moderated, consumers have indicated price hikes and affordability constraints have remained important ... READ MORE >