The New World of Proactive Commerce
New research from the Northwestern Retail Analytics Council and MINTY examines how AI-assisted shopping is changing commerce and how prepared brands and retailers are for the shift. September 25, 2026 By Frank Dudley, Professor and Associate Director, Retail Analytics Council, and Frank Mulhern, Ph.D., Professor, former Associate Dean and Director, Retail Analytics Council. The Retail […]
More Than Notebooks and Backpacks
By Melissa Nelson, Marketing and Communications, Retail Analytics Council, Northwestern University Findings from research conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, in cooperation with the National Retail Federation, show that back-to-school shopping goes beyond traditional notebooks and backpacks. Back-to-school and back-to-college shopping remain two of the largest seasonal retail events of the year, with 42.4% of […]
What the Fourth of July Helps Marketers Understand about Tradition, Not Transactions
By Melissa Nelson, Marketing and Communications, Retail Analytics Council, Northwestern University Every holiday offers marketers an opportunity to better understand holiday consumer behavior. This year’s Fourth of July findings reveal insights that extend well beyond a single celebration and into the next retail season. People don’t gather because they shop. They shop because they gather. […]
Father’s Day Spending as Consumers Seek More Meaningful Ways to Celebrate
Executive Summary Based on a survey of 7,914 consumers conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics in cooperation with the National Retail Federation, Father’s Day remains one of America’s most celebrated holidays, with spending and participation continuing to grow. 76.8% of Americans plan to celebrate Father’s Day in 2026, making it the nation’s sixth most popular […]
How Experience-Driven Gifting is Shaping Mother’s Day Retail
Executive Summary Mother’s Day continues to stand out as one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the U.S., with strong participation and growing economic impact. While overall celebration rates have remained relatively steady, spending patterns and consumer behavior are shifting in notable ways, revealing a move toward more meaningful, experience-driven gifting and a broader […]
Retail Trends, Spending, and Easter Celebratory Patterns
Executive Summary Easter falls between the Super Bowl and Mother’s Day in terms of popularity among American celebrations. Over the past eight years, there has been a slight decrease in the observance of Easter, along with a minor dip in associated spending. Factors such as the presence of children, age, and income strongly influence individuals’ […]
Green, Gatherings, and Grocery Spend: St. Patrick’s Day Trends
Executive Summary St. Patrick’s Day holds its place as a widely celebrated cultural moment in the U.S., with participation and spending showing steady consistency. The latest Prosper Insights & Analytics survey, conducted in February 2026, offers a snapshot of how Americans plan to mark the occasion this year. An estimated 60.4% of adults plan to […]
Valentine’s Day Beyond Cards and Candy
Executive Summary Valentine’s Day remains a meaningful but evolving consumer holiday, shaped by long-term declines in participation alongside steady and increasingly targeted spending. Findings from the January 2026 Prosper Insights & Analytics survey conducted in cooperation with the National Retail Federation (n=7,791) show that just over half of U.S. adults plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day, […]
The Business of Watching the Super Bowl
Executive Summary The Super Bowl continues to operate as a major cultural and consumer event, with participation levels rivaling traditional U.S. holidays and spending patterns that extend well beyond the game itself. Findings from the January 2026 Prosper Insights & Analytics survey conducted in cooperation with the National Retail Federation (n=7,991) show that Super Bowl […]
Americans Feel the Holiday Spending Squeeze
Executive Summary The latest Prosper Insights & Technologies survey paints a clear picture of how Americans are feeling—and spending—as they head into the holiday season. While some demographic groups show resilience, overall financial sentiment remains cautious, shaped heavily by inflation, tariffs, and uncertainty about the broader economy. Key findings include Only 22% of consumers feel […]