Insight Report | April 27, 2020 Premium March 2020 UK Retail Sales: Coronavirus Lockdown Inflicts Severe Blow to Discretionary Sector; Decline Set To Worsen in AprilTotal UK retail sales declined in March, with some sectors taking big hits due to the impact of the nationwide coronavirus lockdown. However, the grocery sector reported strong growth. We review March data for UK retail in total and by sector. Read More
Insight Report | April 22, 2020 Premium 2020 Tax Tracker, Week 11: Tax Filings Decline Sharply, Average Refund Up 2% from Last YearAs of week 11 of the US tax refund season, the number of returns received by the IRS is significantly down year over year as taxpayers take advantage of a filing extension amid the coronavirus crisis. A high number of taxpayers used also the IRS website for information, with Taxpayer Assistance Centers being closed. Read More
Insight Report | April 21, 2020 Premium Consumer Tech Briefing: Coronavirus Crisis Spurs New Technological InnovationsEach month, our Consumer Tech Briefing series discusses recent developments in the world of technology. This month, we focus on digital tools that have been launched to encourage and track social distancing and hygiene during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Read More
Insight Report | April 16, 2020 Premium Coronavirus Insights: US Cannabis Industry Sees Sales Spike, Supply Chain Disruptions and Launch of CBD SanitizersPanic buying amidst the coronavirus crisis has extended to the cannabis and CBD industries in the US. We discuss recent sales data and explore other ways in which the pandemic has impacted these industries, considering online delivery and curbside pickup services, the designation of cannabis businesses as “essential” services, supply chain disruptions and new product launches of CBD-infused hand sanitizer. Read More
Insight Report | April 15, 2020 Premium 2020 Tax Tracker, Week 10: Tax Filings Slide Further, Average Refund Up 1.6% from Last YearAs of week 10 of the US tax refund season, the IRS has reported that the average refund amount was up slightly. Tax filing numbers have dropped year over year and are likely to continue to do so in the coming weeks as taxpayers take advantage of a 90-day filing extension granted by the IRS due to the coronavirus crisis. Read More
Deep Dive | April 14, 2020 Premium Amazon Apparel Consumer Survey 2020: Amazon Cements Its Lead in US Fashion MarketIn our third annual consumer-survey report on Amazon’s position in apparel, we explore how many US shoppers are buying clothing and footwear on Amazon, why, and where (if anywhere) they are switching spending from—among many other findings. Read More
Deep Dive | April 13, 2020 Premium European Apparel Retailing: Value and E-Commerce Continue To Set the PaceIn this report, we look at the European apparel retail sector, with a focus on France, Germany and the UK. In addition to discussing apparel sales in these regions, we discuss how online pure plays are on an upward growth trajectory, bucking the doom-and-gloom trend, as well as efforts by European value retailers to expand their reach and footprint. We also consider multibrand e-commerce players’ moves in the sportswear space and sustainability efforts. Read More
Insight Report | April 8, 2020 Premium 2020 Tax Tracker, Week 9: Tax Filings Slow Down, Average Refund Up $35 from Last YearAs of week nine of the US tax refund season, the number of returns processed by the IRS is down year over year. With the IRS temporarily closing down all Taxpayer Assistance Centers and suspending all in-person customer service nationwide due to the coronavirus crisis, a high number of taxpayers used the IRS website for information. Read More
Insight Report | April 1, 2020 Premium 2020 Tax Tracker, Week 8: Average Refund Size Increases Slightly Over Last YearAs we head into week eight of the US tax refund season, the IRS has reported average refund amounts are up slightly, while online information searches surge as in-person assistance is suspended. Read More
Insight Report | March 25, 2020 Premium 2020 Tax Tracker, Week 7: Coronavirus Disruption Prompts IRS To Extend Tax Filing and Payment Deadline by 90 DaysWith IRS service centers closed and all in-person meetings with taxpayers cancelled, the US Department of the Treasury announced the IRS will extend the tax deadline from April 15 to July 15. That extension also means taxpayers can pay late without interest or penalties. Read More
Insight Report | March 18, 2020 Premium 2020 Tax Tracker, Week 6: Average Refund Size Almost Equal to Last YearAs of week six of the US tax refund season, the number of returns processed by the IRS is down marginally year over year, while the total value of tax refunds is almost equal to last year. Read More
Deep Dive | March 18, 2020 Premium America’s Changing Shopping Centers: Part 1—Where the Mall Stands NowThe first report in our series America’s Changing Shopping Centers offers a data-rich exploration of where malls stand now. In particular, we look at how the rationalization of mall space has lagged store closures, suggesting a correction could be overdue. Read More
Insight Report | March 11, 2020 Premium 2020 Tax Tracker, Week 5: Tax Refunds Down Versus Last YearAs of week five of the US tax refund season, the number of returns processed by the IRS is up marginally year over year, while the total value of tax refunds is down. Read More
Insight Report | March 6, 2020 Premium 2020 Tax Tracker, Week 4: Tax Filings Set To Catch Up with Last YearAs of week four of the US tax refund season, the number of returns processed by the IRS versus the prior year has returned to normal after a brief hiatus. Read More
Insight Report | March 4, 2020 Premium 2020 Tax Tracker, Week 3: IRS Holds EITC and ACTC Refunds, Tax Filings Still Down Versus Last YearIn our series on the US tax refund season, we examine where we are (or, more precisely, where the IRS is) in receiving, processing and issuing tax refunds. As of week three, the number of returns processed was down significantly from last year, but the amount refunded was down even more. Read More
