NORTH AMERICA–This year, roughly 39 percent holiday shoppers will replace traditional wrapped packages with experiential gifts (such as wine tastings, concert tickets and spa treatments), according to The NPD Group.

NORTH AMERICA–Retail sales in August were down 0.2 percent from July on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the National Retail Federation.

NORTH AMERICA–Pam Kaufman and Sujata Luther of Nickelodeon will close out the NYC Licensing Summit Feb. 20 in a keynote session titled “The Story of Me: Insights Into Kids Today.”

NORTH AMERICA–Nearly 84 percent of Americans believe their inclination to shop at a particular retailer during the holiday season would be impacted if the retailer experienced a data breach in the past, according to a survey conducted by...

NORTH AMERICA–Despite reports of massive in-store crowds on Thanksgiving and Black Friday weekend, dollar sales in the fourth week of November were 2 percent lower than they were during the same period in 2016, according to The NPD Group’s U.S...

EUROPE–The U.K. e-retail market is expected to increased 35 percent, reaching £68.8 billion by 2022, according to U.K. research and consulting firm GlobalData.

NORTH AMERICA–U.S. consumers are expected to spend a record $5.9 billion on St. Patrick’s Day celebrations this year, according to the National Retail Federation.

EUROPE–Retail store closures within the U.K. high streets have fallen to their lowest level since 2010, according to Ratula Chakraborty, a senior lecturer in business management at the University of East Anglia’s Norwich Business School.

Not surprisingly, digital commerce is up in Q4, with sales in November and December expected to yet again trend toward mobile and e-shopping. And, as ever, licensed products are in shoppers' carts.

NORTH AMERICA–With the fall season quickly approaching, U.S. consumers are gearing up to spend more than ever on costumes, candy and pumpkins in preparation for the Halloween holiday, according to the National Retail Federation.