Retail & E-commerce

The National Retail Federation's holiday forecast expects U.S. retail sales in November and December 2026 to reach $1.013 trillion, showing consumer spending remains resilient. The figure is one of the most closely watched annual indicators for retailers planning inventory and marketing, and for gauging consumer confidence heading into the year's most important shopping season, when retailers make a disproportionate share of their annual revenue.

Chinese title: NRF预计11月和12月零售额将达1.013万亿美元

The National Retail Federation publishes its 2026 annual retail sales forecast, using a new economic model to assess consumer spending, employment and income trends. The report gives the retail industry a full-year growth benchmark and reflects the institution's overall view of U.S. consumer fundamentals. Retail data fluctuations directly reflect consumers' willingness to spend, offering a window on domestic demand. The forecast is the industry's shared reference point for the year, and its assumptions about jobs and incomes will be tested against each month's spending data as the year unfolds.

Chinese title: NRF发布2026年全年零售额预测

The National Retail Federation's annual consumer survey finds that more than half of holiday shoppers say the state of the economy will affect their holiday spending plans this year. Economic expectations feed directly into year-end shopping budgets, and retailers need to prepare in advance for more budget-conscious consumers, with value and promotions likely to weigh heavily in purchase decisions this season.

Chinese title: 过半假日购物者称经济状况将影响今年的假日消费计划

The CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions, shows U.S. retail sales rose for a 12th consecutive month in September, even as rising gasoline prices squeezed consumer budgets. A full year of monthly gains shows consumer resilience persists, though shoppers have become more price-sensitive in what they buy, and the mix of spending is shifting toward essentials and value-oriented options.

Chinese title: 零售销售连续第12个月增长，油价压力考验消费者

The Global Port Tracker report from NRF and Hackett Associates shows this year's extended peak shipping season is finally nearing its end, with import volumes starting to slow after holding at high levels through the summer. Import pace is a leading signal for retailers' stocking and inventory cycles, and how the peak season winds down affects year-end shelves and promotions.

Chinese title: 全球港口追踪：旺季拉长后，进口货量开始放缓

NIQ's FastTrack research publishes a ranking of the top brands in Britain's on-the-go consumption category, judged on consumers' actual choices. In a fiercely competitive convenience market, the ranking offers a data-backed answer to which brands truly win frequent purchases, and which ones are losing ground as shoppers trade between established names and cheaper alternatives, a pattern that matters for brands planning shelf space and promotional spending.

Chinese title: NIQ FastTrack：英国消费者心中的即买即走品牌赢家

The CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor shows U.S. retail sales rose modestly in August, marking an 11th consecutive month of gains. Behind the monthly increases is resilient consumer spending: despite lingering budget pressures, the U.S. retail base continues to expand slowly, with the breadth of growth across categories suggesting the consumer slowdown many feared has not materialized. Spending remains uneven, however, with lower-income households feeling the squeeze most.

Chinese title: 美国零售销售8月再增，连续第11个月增长

The annual consumer survey from NRF and Prosper Insights & Analytics expects U.S. Halloween spending to reach $13.5 billion this year. Consumers continue to treat Halloween as a spending priority, while also watching their budgets and seeking value — a 'celebrate but save' pattern that defines this year's holiday consumption, and retailers are responding with promotions aimed at cost-conscious party planners.

Chinese title: NRF调查：今年万圣节消费预计达135亿美元

NIQ notes that retailer brands — private labels — are now genuine brands that innovate like brands: nearly half of new products in Western Europe carry a retailer's name, and their ambitions have changed. Having moved beyond their 'cheap alternative' positioning, private labels are now competing head-on with manufacturer brands on product strength, a shift that is redrawing the balance of power between retailers and national brands.

Chinese title: 零售商自有品牌如今就是个品牌，还像品牌一样创新