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 >
retail
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 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 >
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 >
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 >
Back-to-school consumer business outlook: The savvy shopper
In our four-part blog series, RSM’s senior industry analysts explore back-to-school shopping trends and the impact on consumer businesses. This week we focus on how consumers are adjusting shopping habits this season. With consumers feeling the tightening of their monthly budgets and impact to their ... READ MORE >