As our online behavior changes, companies spend less ad money on Google and Meta

Jan 4, 2023
Part of the reason: Social media platforms like TikTok are changing the way we shop online.
While Google is still a big part of the ad business, people are turning to sites like Amazon "as a product search engine instead," said Sucharita Kodali, a retail analyst at Forrester.
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This year, it's inflation, not contagion, that's driving online commerce

Dec 26, 2022
While growth in e-commerce is not as strong as it was at the height of the pandemic, shoppers are still going online to look for good deals.
Though many consumers continue to shop online, internet sales have slowed since their pandemic heights.
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Americans are saving little — while they spend up a storm

Dec 1, 2022
The personal saving rate declined in October to its lowest point since 2005. "A lot of people are close to the edge, unfortunately," an analyst says.
Consumers are increasingly dipping into their savings to pay for things — including basic expenses.
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Things are "awesome and amazing" at this Montana mall

Jun 16, 2022
Alana Ferko explains what's new at the Butte Plaza Mall.
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Retailers have an inventory problem as lockdown lifestyle fades

Jun 7, 2022
As inflation hits and consumers abandon pandemic spending habits, Target and others have the wrong kind of stuff on their hands.
The home goods section at a Target store. Now that consumers are getting out and about, stores are left with too much inventory.
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Industry shakeup signals change for grocery delivery

Jun 1, 2022
More people have gone back to shopping in person, but some pandemic behaviors have stuck.
A distribution center for Buyk, a grocery delivery app, in New York. Inflation and comfort with in-person shopping are hurting delivery services.
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Consumers are spending on services again as the pandemic shopping spree for goods cools

May 31, 2022
People want to get outside and do stuff, not just buy stuff. That's reflected in surging travel bookings — and airfare.
Consumers are still spending on big-ticket, durable goods like furniture. But now demand for services is picking up again.
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For public good, not for profit.

When consumers feel strapped, some brands do well anyway

May 27, 2022
Strong earnings from Nordstrom, Macy's and Dollar General suggest pent-up demand and a reframing of what people consider essential spending.
Dollar Tree said groceries made up a bigger part of its sales last quarter — which could spell trouble for retailers like Walmart and Target.
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The pandemic drove people to buy more online, and some of those buying habits are sticking

Mar 17, 2022
One retail category that remains popular: buying groceries online, something many people had not tried before the pandemic.
Online shopping has surged during the pandemic, according to data from Adobe, But inflation accounts for a significant portion of that growth.
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People are clothes shopping in person again, and small businesses want to be ready

Mar 14, 2022
In-store purchases of clothes and accessories rose 21.9% from last year. Small businesses stand to benefit if they can attract once-cautious shoppers.
Jill Lindsey said she received two federal loans totaling $86,000 to keep her eponymous Brooklyn boutique open during the pandemic.
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