After years of resilience, consumers appear to be pulling back as retail traffic softens alongside record-low consumer sentiment.

The 2026 NRA Show revealed an industry at an inflection point, where value, innovation, and loyalty are separating winners from the pack.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie reshaped theater audiences in 2026, driving family attendance, morning matinees, and post-movie QSR visits.

Gas prices climbed nearly 60% in early 2026 — and foot traffic data shows consumers are finally changing how they fill up and shop. See what the numbers reveal.

Consumers are embracing hobbies like book clubs, crafting, Mahjong, and journaling as affordable indulgences, boosting traffic to retailers including Barnes & Noble (BKS), Michaels, and Paper Source.

Shein’s reported $100M acquisition of Everlane is about more than a sustainability halo – it’s also a bid for direct access to the high-income, urban consumers the fast-fashion giant has long struggled to reach.