Deep Dive | June 29, 2020 Premium Coronavirus Insights: US Survey Update—Online Apparel Shopping Retains Its Appeal Even as Stores Reopen (Full Report)Our latest survey report provides a detailed update on US consumers’ behaviors, concerns and expectations amid the coronavirus crisis, with a focus on the implications for retail. With retail reopening as lockdowns are lifted, we discuss shoppers’ current behaviors, including online shopping and avoidance of public places. We also look at what activities they expect to do in the next two weeks. Our consumer survey was undertaken on June 24. Read More
Insight Report | June 24, 2020 Premium 2020 Tax Tracker, Week 20: Tax Filings Down, Average Refund Up $33 from Last YearAs of week 20 of the US tax refund season, the IRS has reported that the number of returns filed was down year over year, as taxpayers take advantage of the filing extension granted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Although the number of refunds issued was also down, the average refund amount was up from last year. Read More
Insight Report | June 22, 2020 Premium May 2020 UK Retail Sales: Partial Rebound in Discretionary Sector Even Before Most Stores ReopenUK retail sales saw improvement in May after April’s deep declines, aided by a strong performance in DIY and hardware-store sales as these were deemed essential by the government and were thus allowed to stay open during lockdown. Some sectors also began to reopen in May after coronavirus-led temporary closures. We review May data for UK retail in total and by sector. Read More
Insight Report | June 17, 2020 Premium 2020 Tax Tracker, Week 19: Tax Filings Down, Average Refund Up 1.3% from Last YearAs of week 19 of the US tax refund season, the IRS has reported that the number of returns filed was down year over year, as taxpayers take advantage of the filing extension granted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Although the number of refunds issued was also down, the average refund amount was up from last year. Read More
Insight Report | June 16, 2020 Premium Consumer Tech Briefing: Touch-Free Tech Advances as Businesses Prepare To Reopen after LockdownEach month, our Consumer Tech Briefing series discusses recent developments in the world of technology. With the coronavirus remaining at the forefront of consumers’ minds as the world begins to reopen, we explore new, touch-free technology that can help businesses to safely resume operations and engage with customers post lockdown. Read More
Insight Report | June 10, 2020 Premium 2020 Tax Tracker, Week 18: Tax Filings Down, IRS Issues $267 Billion in Economic Impact PaymentsAs of week 18 of the US tax refund season, the IRS has reported that the number of returns filed was down year over year, as was the total number of refunds issued. Economic Impact Payments totaled almost $267 billion. Read More
Insight Report | June 3, 2020 Premium 2020 Tax Tracker, Week 17: Tax Filings Down, Average Refund Up 1.6% from Last YearAs of week 17 of the US tax refund season, the IRS has reported that the number of returns filed was down year over year, as taxpayers take advantage of the filing extension granted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Although the number of refunds issued was also down, the average refund amount was up from last year. Read More
Insight Report | May 27, 2020 Premium 2020 Tax Tracker, Week 16: Tax Filings Down, IRS Issues $258 Billion in Economic Impact PaymentsAs of week 16 of the US tax refund season, the IRS has reported that the number of returns filed was down year over year, as was the total number of refunds issued. Economic Impact Payments totaled more than $258 billion, with the highest number of stimulus payments going to California. Read More
Insight Report | May 25, 2020 Premium April 2020 UK Retail Sales: Huge Declines in Discretionary Sectors Conceal Meaningful Sales Retention through E-CommerceTotal UK retail sales further declined in April, largely due to the enforced closure of nonessential retailers due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, deep declines conceal a meaningful retention of sales through e-commerce. We review April data for UK retail in total and by sector. Read More
Insight Report | May 20, 2020 Premium 2020 Tax Tracker, Week 15: Tax Filings Down, Average Refund Up 1.8% from Last YearAs of week 15 of the US tax refund season, the IRS has reported that the number of returns filed was down year over year, as taxpayers take advantage of the filing extension granted due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the average refund amount was up from last year. Read More
Insight Report | May 15, 2020 Premium Coronavirus Insights: US Drugstore Chains and Big-Box Pharmacy Retailers Roll Out Drive-Thru Coronavirus Testing SitesAs some US states begin to reopen businesses and lift stay-at-home orders, the need for increased testing has become a focal point to slow the spread of the coronavirus. We discuss how the concept of drive-thru testing is undergoing mass expansion across the nation, due to the efforts of drugstore chains and pharmacy retailers. Read More
Insight Report | May 13, 2020 Premium 2020 Tax Tracker, Week 14: Tax Filings Down, IRS Issues $200 Billion in Economic Impact PaymentsAs of week 14 of the US tax refund season, the IRS has reported that the number of returns filed was down year over year, as was the total number of refunds issued. Economic Impact Payments totaled more than $200 billion in the program’s first four weeks, with the highest number of stimulus payments going to California. Read More
Insight Report | May 6, 2020 Premium 2020 Tax Tracker, Week 13: Tax Filings Down, Average Refund Drops by 0.7% from Last YearAs of week 13 of the US tax refund season, the IRS has reported that the average refund amount was down year over year. Tax filing numbers are significantly lower than a year ago as taxpayers take advantage of a 90-day filing extension granted by the IRS due to the coronavirus crisis. Read More
Insight Report | April 29, 2020 Premium 2020 Tax Tracker, Week 12: Filings Down, IRS Issues $158 Billion in Economic Impact PaymentsAs of week 12 of the US tax refund season, the number of returns received by the IRS is significantly down year over year and a huge percentage of these were filed electronically—both impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Economic Impact Payments totaled around $158 billion in the program’s first three weeks. Read More
Insight Report | April 28, 2020 Premium Coronavirus Insights: Americans under Isolation Orders Fuel the Vice EconomyStay-at-home Americans are indulging in their favorite vices while waiting out the coronavirus pandemic. We look at the impact of the current crisis on a number of vice industries, namely pornography, recreational cannabis, alcohol and tobacco/cigarettes. Read More