2025 Industry Insights on Consumer Resilience and Holiday Shopping Trends From ICSC

In 2025, the world continues to navigate challenges like the fluctuating job market, food inflation, politics and tariffs.

Amid these uncertainties, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) is dedicated to supporting and enhancing marketplaces where people shop, dine, work, play, and gather, viewing them as vital to both communities and economies.

The company has released its 2025 Holiday Shopping Intentions survey, highlighting consumer resilience in seeking value and experiences despite individual financial obstacles.

The survey indicates an anticipated 3.5-4% growth in retail...

New Report From FMI Reveals a Significant Shift in Consumer Dining Habits

A new report from The Food Industry Association (FMI) uncovers a significant shift in dining habits.

The study shows that consumers are increasingly choosing deli-prepared foods in place of restaurant meals.

The Power of Foodservice at Retail 2025 examines the factors influencing consumer motivation for choosing deli-prepared options, offering insights from the consumer's perspective on foodservice at retail.

Data from the report revealed that 53% of Americans now take a hybrid approach to creating meals; combining deli-prepared options with other items...

71% of Consumers Shop for Groceries Online, But Grocers Must Eliminate Friction to Grow Loyalty

As online grocery shopping continues to gain traction, U.S. consumers are sending a clear message to grocers: make it easier, smarter, and more connected. A new national survey from VTEX (NYSE: VTEX), composable commerce platform provider, finds that 71% of consumers have shopped online for groceries, with 50% purchasing groceries online at least once a month, but many shoppers are holding back from deeper digital engagement due to persistent friction in the experience.

The findings reveal powerful insights for grocers...

OpenTable and KAYAK Unveil Top 100 Hotel Restaurants Amid Growing Trend of Culinary-Driven Travel

According to new insights from OpenTable and KAYAK, travelers are increasingly choosing their destinations based on where they want to eat.

An OpenTable survey reveals that 47% of Americans have planned a trip specifically to visit a restaurant. Similarly, KAYAK reported a 51% year-over-year increase in travelers using the “restaurant” filter when searching for hotels.

In response to this trend, the two companies have partnered to release their first-ever list of the "Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America...

Circana’s ‘Eat Play Love’ Report Shows Consumer Indulgence Despite Conservative Daily Spending

On June 12, 2025, Circana released its latest report on consumer spending trends, titled “Eat Play Love,” revealing how European consumers are turning to comfort despite ongoing economic pressures, climate concerns, and global conflicts that continually shape daily life.

According to the report, despite exercising frugality with everyday purchases, European consumers are currently prioritizing food retail, foodservice, prestige beauty, and toy purchases, thus indicating a shift towards “self-soothing consumption” and “mini moments of bliss.”

The report leverages Circana's extensive coverage of European consumer goods across hundreds of...

Father’s Day Spending to Reach Record $24 Billion

Father’s Day spending is expected to reach a record $24 billion this year, according to the annual survey released today by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The figure is up from last year’s $22.4 billion and exceeds the previous record of $22.9 billion in 2023.

“Americans are embracing meaningful traditions and holidays, and this Father’s Day, spending on gifts and other holiday items is expected to reach record levels,” NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine...

71% of Canadian and 43% of Mexican Consumers Intend to Buy Fewer US Grocery Products, Study Reveals

Seventy-one percent of Canadian and 43% of Mexican consumers report they will buy fewer U.S. grocery products in 2025 according to the tenth wave of the dunnhumby Consumer Trends Tracker (CTT) released today. Canada and Mexico are the two largest agricultural trading partners of the U.S. According to the USDA, in 2024 the U.S. exported 33% of its agricultural products to Canada and Mexico, totaling over $58 billion out of $176 billion of total U.S. agricultural...

Cargill Forecasts a Sizzling Start to Summer Grilling this Memorial Day

As millions of Americans mark the start of summer this Memorial Day weekend, Cargill is forecasting a strong demand for protein as grills fire up across the country. The company expects that many consumers will prioritize affordability without sacrificing taste by seeking out staples like ground beef, chicken and hot dogs.

Nearly 9 of 10 consumers say they’re ready to grill this summer, with approximately half of them planning to do so weekly. Beef (79%) and poultry (64%) remain the top choices for the grill...

Mother’s Day Wishes Revealed According to OpenTable Research

Mother’s Day is meant to be a time of pampering and appreciation, but for many moms, the planning still lands on their to-do list.

According to research from OpenTable, 44% of moms say having others make plans to celebrate them is what makes Mother’s Day truly special. Yet, despite this, 39% of moms end up making their own reservations.

It's no wonder nearly 30%, nearly a third, say what they’re most looking forward to is some well-deserved “me time” and a chance...

Americans Turn to Frozen and Dairy Aisles to Keep Resolutions

As millions of Americans begin tackling their New Year's resolutions today, new research reveals the frozen and dairy aisles are becoming important destinations for achieving health, budget and convenience goals. According to a survey commissioned by the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA), 66% of Americans say pre-portioned ingredients help them achieve their health goals, while 75% cite cost savings as a top reason for choosing the frozen and refrigerated aisles - signaling a continued shift in shopping and eating habits...

197 Million Consumers Shop Over Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend

The five-day holiday weekend from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday saw an estimated 197 million shoppers, according to the annual survey released today by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The figure is the second highest number in the survey’s history after last year’s record of 200.4 million, and surpassed NRF’s initial expectations of 183.4 million shoppers.

“Thanksgiving weekend retains its prominence among holiday spending events and continues to play a significant role in the holiday season for both consumers and retailers,” NRF President and CEO...

Kroger Reveals Customer Thanksgiving Favorites and Grocery Shopping Habits in Time for The Holidays

In preparation for Thanksgiving, The Kroger Co. surveyed customers to see how they plan to shop and what they plan to eat during the holidays this year.

"Thanksgiving is such a special time of year and we take pride in knowing exactly what is important to our customers during this holiday season," said Tom Duncan, Vice President, Head of Marketing at Kroger. "No matter how they choose to celebrate, we're happy to provide our customers with value on the items they need...

Circana Reports Nearly 80% of Thanksgiving Meals Are Homemade, as Consumers Embrace Traditions

Circana™, a leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior, today released its annual Thanksgiving Outlook, providing key insights into projected consumer purchasing behaviors and attitudes for 2024. This year’s analysis highlights the enduring popularity of Thanksgiving traditions, providing actionable insights to help manufacturers, retailers, and marketers develop merchandising and promotional strategies to engage consumers and drive growth throughout the Thanksgiving season.

The week prior to and the week of Thanksgiving are essential for driving sales, though some...

Foodservice and Retail Merge as Boundaries Blur in a Transforming Market, Reports Circana

Circana, a leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behaviour, reports key shifts in the foodservice industry, revealing that traditional boundaries between foodservice and retail are becoming increasingly blurred.

The research, based on Circana’s comprehensive CREST data, reveals that European consumers spent €888 billion on food and beverages in the past year, with 37% of that dedicated to ‘immediate consumption’ options across both retail and foodservice channels.

The immediate consumption category includes food and drinks purchased for immediate use...

Thanksgiving Side Dish Showdown: What Do Americans Want to Ban from the Buffet

A New Survey Reveals the Dishes You Can Cut from the Menu to Save Money this Holiday Season.

Thanksgiving is America’s favorite non-denominational holiday. It’s a festive occasion marked by feasts, football, family…and occasional feuding. Tensions may run exceptionally high at the grown-ups’ table this election year, so Savings.com suggests an alternate arena to settle more playful disputes.

White meat or dark? Stuffing or spuds? Should we even call it Turkey Day? Keep conversation light with these collegial controversies and... 

US Foods 2024 Diner Dispatch Survey Uncovers Surprising Shifts in Diner Preferences

US Foods Holding Corp– one of America’s leading foodservice distributors – today released the results of its 2024 Diner Dispatch survey, which showcases the state of America’s relationship with dining out. Year-over-year data highlights key takeaways that can help operators make informed business decisions to help meet or exceed diner expectations. These include dine-in vs. take-out preferences, spend thresholds, and other key experiential preferences such as favorite restaurant types, wait times and the use of QR code menus...