Global Scans · Retail · Weekly Summary

• [New] TSE - 3 solar opportunities live: Multiple French PV / agrivoltaic assets from a leading developer now open to retail investors. Crowdinform
• [New] Resale grew 15 times faster than the broader retail clothing sector in 2023, with online resale up 23% and expected to account for half of all spending on second-hand apparel by 2025. WTIN
• [New] US ecommerce already accounts for 16.3% of total retail sales as of Q2 2025, and analysts expect it to top 20% by 2027, more than double the 9% recorded in 2018. Shopify
• [New] Global retail sales are expected to surpass USD 20.8 trillion by 2029, with e-commerce penetration reaching 28%. Euromonitor
• [New] The retail sector globally is facing a surge in cyber attacks, with recent incidents affecting major UK retailers and resulting in significant data loss and operational disruptions. Insurance Business
• [New] The phase-out of plastic barrier bags in Western Australia will bring noticeable changes to the way loose fruit and vegetables are handled in stores and by customers. Ward Packaging
• [New] More than 80% of large US retailers plan to increase their investment in AI, while many are aiming to deploy the technology across return management, customer service, and product availability monitoring. Signity Software Solutions Pvt Ltd
• [New] 77% of retailers plan to invest less than $5 million in AI infrastructure over the next 18 months, but 60% plan to boost AI investments based on initial results, suggesting a measured approach to scaling successful pilot programs. Acticsledge
• [New] Global retail media spending will grow from $184 billion in 2025 to $312 billion by 2030 at a five-year compound annual growth rate of 11%, per Forrester's recently published Global Retail Media Forecast, 2025 To 2030. Forrester
• [New] During the quarter, the India business continued to exhibit steady momentum through the months of July and August, while having to absorb the transitory impact of disruption in trade channels and purchases by the Canteen Stores Department ahead of the implementation of new GST rates in September. Economic Times
• [New] Walmart Inc. WMT continues to demonstrate strong momentum in digital retail, with e-commerce sales rising 25% in the second quarter of fiscal 2026. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Consumer debt stress - particularly among lower-income borrowers - could weigh on retail spending, which drives two-thirds of U.S. GDP. TPI Efficiency
• 65% of retail jobs could be automated by 2025, creating significant organizational challenges beyond pure technology implementation. Acticsledge
• Despite remarkable success stories, AI implementation in retail faces significant challenges that explain why Harvard Business Review estimates 80% of AI projects fail to deliver expected value. Acticsledge
• Pure-play online retailers show highest growth at 19.8% CAGR through 2030, leveraging AI advantages in digital-first operations without legacy system constraints. Acticsledge
• One-third of retail executives are already using AI to forecast and analyze demand, while 34% expect it to play a major role in sustaining or growing profits over the next two years. Forbes
• By 2030, retail media will be among the largest paid media investment categories, with global retail media spending reaching twice the level of global television ad spending. Forrester
• Retail sales for November and December are forecast to rise 4% to USD 975 billion, below the 10-year average growth of 5.2%. Retail Slop
• Over 15% of total holiday spending will come before November, per forecasts from PwC, making October critical for retailers aiming to capture early demand. Modern Retail
• U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of additional 100% tariffs on Chinese imports has sounded alarm bells among retail and trade experts, who caution it could lead to more price increases and squeeze demand. SeafoodNews
• US import cargo volumes at major ports are expected to drop below 2 million TEU monthly for the rest of 2025 as tariffs rise and retailers remain well-stocked. Fibre2Fashion

Last updated: 23 October 2025