Insight Report | March 17, 2021 Premium February 2021 US Retail Sales: Weather and Lack of Stimulus Slows Growth, but Sales Remain StrongUS retail sales growth grew by 7.2% in February 2021, down from revised growth in the low double-digits in January. Using data from the US Census Bureau, this report looks at which retail sectors saw sales surge and which did not do well in February 2021. Read More
Insight Report | March 17, 2021 Premium January and February 2021 China Retail Sales: Total Sales Jump 30.7%; All Sectors Report Positive Growth Against Weak 2020We review data for retail in China in total and by sector for January and February 2021—a period that saw sales jump significantly year over year, against weak comparatives for the Covid-impacted period of 2020. Read More
Insight Report | March 16, 2021 Premium US Housing Market Macro Overview: March 2021 UpdateOur Housing Market Macro Overview report offers the latest insights into the state of the US housing landscape. We cover nine recent metrics for the US market, including existing home sales, the Housing Affordability Index (HAI) and the Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI). Read More
Deep Dive | March 16, 2021 Databank Members US Consumer Tracker: Consumers Get Back to Socializing (Full Report)Our latest survey report provides a detailed update on US consumers’ behaviors, concerns and expectations, with a focus on the implications for retail. This week, we present findings on what activities consumers have done, including key trends from the past three months and breakdowns by income group. We also discuss consumer avoidance of public places and what consumers are buying more of and less of than pre-pandemic. Our consumer survey was undertaken on March 8. Read More
Insight Report | March 16, 2021 Databank Members US Consumer Tracker: Consumers Get Back to Socializing (Select Findings)This free report features select findings from our latest survey of US consumers, undertaken on March 8, which asked respondents about their behavior, sentiment and expectations amid the coronavirus crisis. Read More
Insight Report | March 12, 2021 Premium February 2021 US Retail Traffic and In-Store Metrics: Traffic Declines by 36%, Easing Toward the End of the MonthFebruary 2021 saw a total US nonfood store traffic decline of 36% year over year, a weakening in traffic trends compared to January. We review weekly shopper traffic trends through the month, as well as traffic by retailer vertical, region and retailer location type. Read More
Store Tracker | March 12, 2021 Databank Members Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2021, Week 10: US Openings Exceed Closures as Discount Chains ExpandOur Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker reports on store closures, openings and bankruptcies. This week, there are highlights from Abercrombie & Fitch, Burlington Stores, Chico’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Dollar Tree, Foxtrot Market, Gap, Grocery Outlet, NIKE, Ross Stores and The Children’s Place in the US and Clarks and Morrisons in the UK. Read More
Insight Report | March 9, 2021 Premium How Are US Home and Home-Improvement Retailers Handling Returns?We discuss seven measures that US home and home-improvement retailers use to manage their returns processes, including updates in light of increased e-commerce demand. We include examples from retailers including Home Depot, IKEA, Macy’s, Wayfair and Williams-Sonoma and innovators such as Position Imaging and Newmine. Read More
Insight Report | March 8, 2021 Databank Members US Consumer Tracker: Rebound in Online Apparel and Beauty Purchases (Select Findings)This free report features select findings from our latest survey of US consumers, undertaken on March 1, which asked respondents about their behavior, sentiment and expectations amid the coronavirus crisis. Read More
Deep Dive | March 8, 2021 Databank Members US Consumer Tracker: Rebound in Online Apparel and Beauty Purchases (Full Report)Our latest survey report provides a detailed update on US consumers’ behaviors, concerns and expectations, with a focus on the implications for retail. This week, we present findings on what product categories consumers had purchased in-store and online in the past two weeks, as well as what they are buying more of and less of than pre-pandemic. We also discuss what activities consumers have done in the past two weeks. Our consumer survey was undertaken on March 1. Read More
Company Profile | March 5, 2021 Premium Pinduoduo (NASDAQ: PDD) Company ProfilePinduoduo is a Chinese e-commerce retailer, selling a range of merchandise. Headquartered in Shanghai, the company operates its group-buying retail model throughout China. Read More
Store Tracker | March 5, 2021 Databank Members Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2021, Week 9: TJX Companies To Open 81 Net US Stores in 2021Our Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker reports on store closures, openings and bankruptcies. This week, there are highlights from Amazon, Bath & Body Works, Bob’s Discount Furniture, Casper Sleep, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Hudson, Macy’s, Paper Source, Payless, Sprouts Farmers Market, TJX Companies and Victoria’s Secret in the US and Amazon, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Thomas Pink in the UK. Read More
Insight Report | March 5, 2021 Premium February 2021 Leading Indicators of US Retail Sales: Without Additional Stimulus, Early Spring Sales Look Set To WeakenIn our monthly Leading Indicators of US Retail Sales series, we examine several key macroeconomic indicators of US retail sales and analyze how they may impact the industry in the months to come. We analyze the latest available data, as of the end of February 2021, covering the job market, income and savings, and housing. Read More
Deep Dive | March 2, 2021 Premium US Retail amid Economic Recovery: Learnings from the Global Financial CrisisIn this report, we examine the impending economic and retail recovery from the coronavirus crisis in the US through the lens of recovery from the 2008 Global Financial Crisis (GFC). We discuss how lessons from the 2008 financial crisis are useful for understanding the shape and speed of the expected retail recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, as well as exploring the differences in the nature and cause of the two crises. Read More
Insight Report | March 1, 2021 Premium Earnings Insights 4Q20, Week 4: Home Categories Stand Strong, While Apparel Sees Weak DemandOur weekly Earnings Insights reports feature highlights from recent management commentary at major US retailers as they report fourth-quarter 2020 earnings. This week, there are highlights from companies that reported in the week ended February 28—namely, Best Buy, Farfetch, Home Depot, L Brands, Lowe’s, Macy’s, The RealReal, The TJX Companies and Wayfair. Read More
