Research Shows Why Clothing Take-Back Programs Fail
A new peer-reviewed study, titled "The Role of Information, Rewards, and Convenience in Take-Back Programs for Clothing," found that simply telling consumers their returned items will be “kept out of landfills” significantly increases participation in take-back programs. But when retailers disclose that they may resell those items for profit, participation plummets.
Black Friday Weekend Draws a Record 203M Shoppers
A record 202.9 million consumers shopped during the five-day holiday weekend from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday. The figure is up from 197 million shoppers last year and surpasses the previous record of 200.4 million set in 2023.
Thanksgiving Weekend to Draw Large Number of Shoppers
A record 186.9 million people are planning to shop from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday this year, according to the consumer survey released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The figure is up more than 3 million total shoppers from the previous record of 183.4 million last year.
Small Business Optimism Takes a Small Step Back
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index for October found that small business optimism is taking a small step back as uncertainty eased up a bit last month.
Holiday Sales Expected to Surpass $1 Trillion in 2025
The National Retail Federation released its annual holiday forecast, predicting retail sales in November and December will grow between 3.7% and 4.2% over 2024.
Retail Industry Grapples with Rising Levels of Theft and Violence
The retail industry continues to grapple with increasing levels of theft and violence, according to a new study released today by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and the Loss Prevention Research Council and sponsored by Sensormatic Solutions.
Half of Small Businesses’ Annual Sales Take Place During Holidays
Constant Contact's new Small Business Holiday Outlook found that while optimism remains high, businesses are strategically adapting to economic pressures and evolving consumer behaviors to maximize holiday sales.
New American Express Small Business Study Reveals Accelerating AI Adoption
American Express released its latest Amex Trendex: Small Business Edition, which revealed that small businesses are accelerating Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption, with 66% now using AI. This is a 10 point increase from the May 2025 Trendex.
2025 Consumer Holiday Spending Expected to Reach New Heights
Consumers plan to spend $890.49 per person on average this year on holiday gifts, food, decorations and other seasonal items, according to the NRF's annual consumer survey. The amount is the second-highest in the survey’s 23-year history and falls only 1.3% less than last year’s record of $901.99.
Returns Expected to Reach $850 Billion in 2025
Retailers estimate that 15.8% of their annual sales will be returned this year, totaling $849.9 billion, according to the 2025 Retail Returns Landscape report released by the NRF. The returns rate is in line with 16.9% last year, when returns totaled $890 billion.
