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 shopping
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 >
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 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 >
Retail sales post strong gains in January, though it may not last
Retail sales in the United States posted a stronger-than-expected rebound in January after two straight holiday months of disappointing declines. Sales increased by 3.0% on the month and by 2.3% if automobiles are excluded, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Evan after controlling for ... READ MORE >
Consumer products holiday season insights: Thanksgiving holiday sees consumers continue to spend
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, consumers showed they are not yet ready to pull back on the robust spending that has driven economic activity over the last three years. Consumers equipped with $1.8 trillion of excess savings, compared with the first quarter in 2020 (approximately 80% held by the upper two ... READ MORE >