Retail foot traffic held steady in March 2026 as calendar shifts masked gains, while e-commerce surged and manufacturing activity remained resilient despite contracting employment.

Fast casual leads dining growth in Q1 2026 as value, quality, and convenience drive visits, while QSR stabilizes and full-service faces pressure from shifting consumer behavior.

Office visits hit their strongest March since COVID, with rising RTO mandates and improving traffic across key markets signaling continued recovery momentum in 2026.

Shoptalk 2026 highlights the rise of AI-driven commerce, shifting consumer behavior, and the evolving role of stores as retailers adapt to a new era of agility and demand sensing.

Easter drove a notable lift in retail traffic, highlighting resilient consumer demand and strong regional variation led by the Southeast.

Six key Q1 2026 retail trends – from mall momentum and Target’s recovery to Costco growth, AI’s impact, and evolving grocery and office patterns.