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 >
consumer products
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 products holiday season insights: E-commerce helps drive holiday sales growth
The consumer continues to beat spending expectations with 4.1% year-over-year growth, 4.9% year-over-year in core goods (excluding food services, gas, building materials and motor vehicle dealers), according to the U.S Census Bureau. Cyber Monday and e-commerce natives helped lead the charge for this ... READ MORE >
Consumer products holiday season 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 >
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 >
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: 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 >