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 >
holiday shopping
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 >
Consumer products holiday season insights: The return of the shopper
The shift of the coronavirus crisis from a pandemic to an endemic state has brought with it the return of the holiday shopper and traveler. Consumers continued to demonstrate a willingness to spend against inflation headwinds with holiday-focused retailer sales in October 2022 coming in at 6.45% ... 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 >
Back-to-school consumer business outlook: Did consumers pull back on spending?
In our four-part blog series, RSM’s senior industry analysts explore back-to-school shopping trends and the impact on consumer businesses. In our final post, we provide a look back at spending habits and what’s to come for the holidays. As we enter the second half of September and with students back in ... READ MORE >
Holiday inventory problem: Some firms are better prepared than others
As supply chain bottlenecks continue to plague the economy, hampering output and raising prices, many analysts have warned that there will not be enough goods in stock for the holiday shopping season. Our new RSM US Supply Chain Index also reached a two-decade low in October, pointing to a problem ... READ MORE >
Consumer products holiday season countdown: Lessons to learn as retailers look to 2022
Successful execution on an omnichannel strategy is no longer enough for middle market retailers. Yes, it’s important to meet and sell to clients where they are whether it’s in a store or online, but it’s also essential for retailers that these channel efforts be profitable, especially amid this year’s ... READ MORE >
Consumers signal strong start to holiday spending; how will it end?
The increase in October retail sales at 1.7% month over month beat estimates of 1.4%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. For further perspective and to reduce the noise and focus on holiday season sales, we saw a 12.9% increase year over year for retail sales, excluding food services, gas, building ... READ MORE >