Research Shows Consumers Prefer to Buy Alcohol Online
A recent survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers, commissioned by DRINKS and conducted by Dynata, found that 49% of 21-34-year-olds would be likely to purchase alcohol from their favorite online retailers if they started offering e-commerce versus their traditional alcohol retailer.
Consumers to Spend $23.6 Billion on Easter
Consumers plan to spend a total of $23.6 billion on Easter this year, according to an NRF survey. The amount is above last year’s $22.4 billion, and approaching the record $24 billion spent in 2023.
NRF Forecasts 2025 Retail Sales to Hit $5.42 Trillion
The National Retail Federation (NRF) forecasts that retail sales during 2025 will grow between 2.7% and 3.7% over 2024 to between $5.42 trillion and $5.48 trillion.
Consumers Desire Trust and Transparency
In an era of volatility and evolving social norms, modern consumers are navigating a highly complex landscape in which trust and transparency are paramount. InvestBev released a white paper, “Transparency: An Industry Imperative,” which offers an in-depth look at how consumer shifts toward trust and wellness are transforming the beverage industry.
Retailers Oppose USTR Shipping Remedies Proposal
The National Retail Federation and the Retail Industry Leaders Association submitted joint comments regarding proposed action in the Section 301 investigation of China’s targeting of the maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors for dominance.
‘California Sober’ Movement Changing the Way Consumers Drink
The ‘California Sober’ movement, where individuals swap alcohol for cannabis, functional beverages or simply moderation, is a trend that's here to stay. And with the global alcohol-free beverage market projected to surpass $225 billion by 2030, the question isn’t if this movement will redefine drinking culture, it’s how quickly.
FedEx to Launch Easy Returns at 3,000 Locations Across the US
FedEx Corporation is launching a new service called FedEx Easy Returns, supported by Blue Yonder. This offering will allow FedEx customers to access a low-cost, box- and label-free returns solution launching with approximately 3,000 drop-off locations in the network of FedEx Office and Kohl’s stores in the summer, with additional expansion plans across the U.S. later.
Consumers Still Apprehensive Despite Healthy Economy
Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau showed modest month-over-month retail sales growth in February amid consumer worries over inflation and Washington policy decisions.
New Report Reveals AI is Reshaping the Hiring Process
Artificial intelligence (AI) integration into the workplace is progressing rapidly, with HR professionals and employees adopting AI tools to help with various tasks. To better understand how the workforce interacts with AI, hiring platform HireVue surveyed over 4,000 HR leaders and employees in their latest report, which found that AI adoption surged in 2025.
Retail and Restaurant Sales Accelerate in February
While total spending growth was nearly flat compared to January, sector-level trends showed consumers shifting more spend to retailers and restaurants in February and spending less at service-based businesses.
