Global Scans · Retail · Weekly Summary

• [New] Add in uncertainty surrounding tariffs, stubbornly high costs for groceries, rent and utilities, and the growing use of AI tools as personal deal-hunters, and retailers are heading into 2026 facing a strange paradox: strong top-line sales paired with fragile confidence underneath. Baton Rouge Business Report
• [New] The retail landscape in 2026 is defined by a relentless shift toward digital commerce and data-driven advertising. Ainvest
• [New] (22-25% YTD) through margin expansion, Walmart's hybrid digital-physical model insulates it from traditional retail risks. Ainvest
• [New] Retail investors entering 2026 will be watching closely: stablecoin infrastructure is nearly in place, DeFi platforms are more resilient, and institutional corridors (ETFs, banks) are widening. Smallcapnetwork - Top Small Cap & Penny Stocks | Market
• [New] Amazon: Ecommerce and Retail Personalization In 2025, Amazon forecasted that its AI shopping assistant Rufus could indirectly contribute more than $700 million in operating profit by increasing customer spending through AI-powered personalized recommendations and conversational assistance. Hubspot
• [New] About 70% of fashion retailers plan to increase AI investments within the next two years to strengthen personalization and tech-driven shopping experiences. Fashion Theory Magazine
• [New] In 2026, retail property is forecast to deliver investment returns of 9.5%. The Guardian
• [New] ICF, a consulting firm, has said it expects residential retail power prices to increase between 15% and 40% by 2030. NPR
• [New] With the Atkins-led SEC signaling a willingness to expand retail access to private equity and credit, 2026 could see the launch of the first truly liquid private equity ETFs. Observer News Enterprise
• [New] The retail sector has experienced a rebound in 2025, however, the prospect of interest rate hikes could dampen sales in 2026. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] In 2026, retail faces complex regulations as technology outpaces compliance frameworks. Mass Market Retailers
• [New] By 2026, retail will shift from high-volume hiring to attracting high-value talent, as automation handles routine tasks, allowing humans to focus on storytelling, problem solving and AI oversight. Mass Market Retailers
• [New] With BNPL usage at record levels, many consumers will be facing significant payment obligations in Q1 2026, which could lead to a sharper-than-usual seasonal slowdown in retail activity. The Ridgway Record
• As AI agents become the primary intermediaries between brands and consumers and businesses, they could represent the biggest retail disruption since the introduction of ecommerce, with AI agents predicted to drive $9 trillion in sales by 2030. FoodNavigator-USA.com
• The bottom line for retailers and brands: By 2030, AI will touch most online shopping in some capacity, completing up to a quarter of transactions. Bain & Company
• AI agents, software that shops, compares, and purchases autonomously on your behalf, could influence $1 trillion in U.S. retail spending by 2030. Google Business
• Retail media is expected to grow to $190 billion in 2026. Marketplace
• In 2026, digital ads will be led by retail media. Marketplace
• New markets: Florida continues 2026 ballot push; Rhode Island opens first adult-use retail licensing; Texas awards nine medical licenses creating up to 99 locations; Virginia preps 2026 legalization recommendations. JD Supra
• Walmart plans to open five stores in January after opening or remodeling nine in 2025. Arkansas Online

Last updated: 01 January 2026