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 >
consumer goods
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 >
Cautious, but optimistic, consumer products M&A climate for 2024
For consumer products-focused investors, 2023 will be one to forget as closed deal activity fell to the lowest level since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The robust deal market of 2020 and 2021 feels like a distant memory as well. A combination of economic uncertainty and inconsistency on recessionary ... READ MORE >
Back-to-school outlook: Consumers will seek value
In our four-part blog series, RSM’s senior industry analysts explore back-to-school shopping trends and the impact on consumer businesses. The upcoming back-to-school season is influenced by shifting consumer behavior as families prioritize value-oriented choices amid the long-term impacts of inflation ... READ MORE >
Are the good times in consumer spending coming to an end?
American consumers have shown remarkable resilience as the economy has rebounded from the depths of the pandemic. Overall spending has remained robust, despite elevated inflation and rising interest rates. But that could be changing. Lower-income consumers have started to show cracks in demand, and that ... READ MORE >
Consumer products M&A insights
The market for mergers and acquisitions in the consumer products industry has cooled from the frothy levels of a year ago. Closed deal activity slowed for the fourth consecutive quarter, according to data from PitchBook. This trend has continued as investors remain cautious given the uncertain economic ... READ MORE >
Consumer products holiday season insights: Retailers’ stocks are full going into the holidays
Retailers’ inventory levels are heavy going into the holiday season as supply chain pressures eased (evidenced by the latest readings in the RSM US Supply Chain Index) and consumer demand shifted away from products and toward experiences. Consumer goods companies have discounted product to right-size ... READ MORE >
Consumer products holiday season insights: Retail holiday shopping expected to be strong this year
With the holiday shopping season already begun, RSM forecasts nominal retail sales from October through December to increase between 6.5% and 8.0% on a year-over-year basis. Given that October retail sales are set to be released on Nov. 16—and because of a shift in consumer and retailer shopping ... READ MORE >
Consumer products M&A insights from the third quarter
Based on information available as of Oct. 23, 2022 from PitchBook Data, Inc., consumer products closed deal activity continued to slow, contracting for the third consecutive quarter. Current economic challenges, including inflationary pressures and the resulting shift in consumer discretionary spending, ... READ MORE >
Resale is big business and an opportunity for middle market consumer goods companies
The resale industry is expected to exceed new goods apparel growth by 16 times, according to Bloomberg, increasing the market from $9 billion in 2020 to $51 billion by 2026. In 2010, 4% of closets consisted of secondhand clothing; in 2021 that has increased to 9%, and projections are as high as 27% by ... READ MORE >