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.
Census Data Shows Slower Retail Sales in January
Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows retail sales slowed in January following a strong holiday season but still rose year over year.
Small Business Sales Continue to Rise in the New Year
Payments and financial services technology provider Fiserv, Inc. published the Fiserv Small Business Index for January 2025. Sales growth persisting through January was a welcome start to the new year for small businesses, many of which were coming off a strong holiday season.
Companies Scaling Back DEI Commitments in 2025
A new survey conducted by Resume.Org found that 1 in 8 companies are reducing or eliminating DEI efforts this year, with many citing shifts in the political climate as a key factor.
