Last month NetSuite held its annual SuiteWorld event in Las Vegas, gathering industry leaders, partners and clients from around the world to reflect on the past, explore the present and envision the future of enterprise resource planning technology. The event marked its 25th-year anniversary. RSM's ... READ MORE >
Consumer products
Consumer products holiday insights: Fading consumer confidence won’t dampen holiday retail cheer
Despite numerous economic challenges, consumer spending has remained remarkably resilient. The U.S. Census Bureau’s release of September retail sales showed strong results, solidifying consumers’ willingness to spend. But with the holiday season approaching, it remains to be seen whether consumers will ... READ MORE >
Consumer products holiday season insights: Shopping growth to be lower, but still strong
With Halloween in the rear-view mirror and winter holiday decorations in department stores in full swing, RSM forecasts nominal retail sales from October through December will increase nearly 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. Given that many promotional events began in early October, consistent with ... READ MORE >
Consumer sentiment hits 5-month low amid elevated inflation expectations
Consumer sentiment this month dropped to the lowest level since May, according to preliminary October data in the University of Michigan survey released Friday. The decline stems from the rebound in inflation, high gasoline prices and weakened expectations due to a looming government shutdown. More ... READ MORE >
Back-to-school outlook: What can we expect for holiday shopping?
In our four-part blog series, RSM’s senior industry analysts explore back-to-school shopping trends and the impact on consumer businesses. Many analysts use back-to-school shopping as an indication for how holiday sales will trend, a theory confirmed on Walmart’s recent earnings call. If July’s ... READ MORE >
Consumer products M&A cooled in the first half
Merger and acquisition activity among consumer products companies took a breather in the first half of the year as valuations were reset amid rising interest rates. Closed deal activity declined by more than 25% over the same period a year earlier, driven not only by the reset in valuations but ... READ MORE >
July retail sales show upside surprise, helped by discounting and back-to-school events: RSM analyst perspective
Retail sales rose 0.7% in July from the prior month, beating analysts’ expectations for a 0.4% rise, likely driven by a series of July discount events at major retailers and the start of back-to-school shopping. The rise marked the fourth consecutive month of increases. Stripping out spending on gas, ... READ MORE >
Robust retail sales data in July raises Q3 GDP forecast
American consumers continued to show a robust spending appetite in July as sales from retail and food services came in much hotter than expected. Total sales rose 0.7% on the month, much higher than the 0.4% forecasted and was the fourth consecutive increase since April. The control group, which ... READ MORE >
Back-to-school outlook: Inventory levels point to sustained discounting strategies
In our four-part blog series, RSM’s senior industry analysts explore back-to-school shopping trends and the impact on consumer businesses. Retailers will continue discounting through the back-to-school shopping season and beyond. Here’s why. Beginning the summer of 2022, both companies and investors ... READ MORE >
Back-to-school outlook: Channel surfing bargains
In our four-part blog series, RSM’s senior industry analysts explore back-to-school shopping trends and the impact on consumer businesses. The beginning of the year saw consumers grappling with economic uncertainty due in large part to high inflation, depleting savings and the fear of an impending ... READ MORE >