Macroeconomics Insight Center

Today, Saudi women and the global community are rejoicing with the news that Saudi Arabia has finally allowed its women to drive. As a woman from the region, I must stress that the social and cultural enormity of this announcement should not be underestimated. What many of us take for granted ...

The focus of the retail industry will be quickly turning in September from the back-to-school season to the winter holidays. Kantar Retail’s newly minted holiday 2017 forecast indicates retailers and suppliers should look to the holiday with divided expectations. Upscale and value-based ...

According to Focus Economics, regional GDP growth estimates for Q1 fall somewhere around 2.5% YoY, below the 3.0% experienced in Q4. Economies are enjoying the benefit of slightly higher oil prices and fiscal consolidation, increased efforts for peace in Yemen and the slowly receding strength ...

After retail sales growth in Texas was bucked off its horse by the oil market in 2015, it has saddled back up. Retail sales estimates from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas show year-to-year growth emerged in September 2016 following declines in the prior 13 months. The most recent data ...

We’ve heard from many CPG clients within the past couple weeks indicating they’ve seen a steep decline in category performance in the United States in January and February based on point of sale data. Triangulating between Kantar Retail’s shopper, macro, and retail data; ...

Several factors are conspiring to push shoppers against the ropes in early 2017. The combined effect of delayed tax refund checks, renewed gasoline inflation, and higher healthcare costs will cause consumer demand to stumble a bit in the first few months of the year, especially among low- ...

Holiday retail sales growth matched last year’s moderate pace as steep price cuts once again hindered topline growth. For the second straight year, though, holiday demand was strong as shoppers took advantage of falling prices in most categories, including food. In August, Kantar ...

European Retailing in the Week Ahead – Week 52, 2016 Retail prices in today’s environment are anything but predictable. Geopolitical turmoil has created volatility in commodity markets. Fiscal policies have created exaggerated swings in foreign exchange rates. On top of this, consumer ...

The regional job market has been sharply divided in 2016 by industry trends — energy jobs are dragging down the South Central region, while housing construction and services jobs are boosting the Western and Southeastern regions. Well, retailers and suppliers should be aware of another ...