August U.S. Retail Spending Results Reflect Easing Inflation 

Declining prices contribute to slowing growth in food and beverage spending, and back-to-school shopping remains tardy

In August 2023, U.S. retail sales revenue, including both discretionary general merchandise and consumer packaged goods (CPG), remained unchanged compared to the same month last year, and unit sales declined 2%. Discretionary general merchandise spending declines continued with a 5% decline in dollar sales and 7% drop in unit sales compared to last August. CPG spending gains slowed slightly from last month, with 3% growth in food and beverage, a 2% increase in...

After COVID-era SNAP Benefits Ended in March, Impacted Households Reduced Spending

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), historically known as food stamps, has undergone recent changes, including the end of COVID relief benefits across the U.S. in March. The final elimination of extra SNAP benefits nationwide in March reduced food and beverage aid by $23B annually. As a result, in the initial months after the benefit cutbacks, SNAP households reduced their monthly food and beverage spending, on average, by about 35% of cut benefits. For example, if SNAP benefits were cut by $200, the reduced food and...

Consumer Foodservice Spend Returns to Pre-COVID Levels Across Europe

Circana, the leading advisor on consumer complexity that formerly traded as IRI and The NPD Group, today launched its latest results from its CREST service analysis, revealing continued recovery for the European foodservice sector as consumers across five markets return to bars, restaurants and other foodservice establishments. Total spend for the sector is now back to pre-pandemic levels (€308 Bn in 12 months ending May 2023).

Spain is the first country to show spend growth to pre-pandemic...

Sustainability is Trending Upward and Delivering Growth Across Retail, Reports Circana

Spending on sustainability is trending upward across several areas of discretionary general merchandise and consumer packaged goods (CPG). As of September 2022, 40% of consumers reported that environmental issues impact their decision on whether or not to shop at a specific manufacturer or retailer, according to Circana, formerly IRI and The NPD Group, surpassing social issues for the first time.

“Products that impact our energy use, reduce waste, and use recycled materials or natural ingredients are all getting attention from consumers and presenting...

Consumers Turning to Foodservice, Restaurant Deals in Early 2023

Consumers eating away from home were eyeing the best deal during the first quarter of 2023, reported Circana, formerly IRI and The NPD Group.

Unsurprisingly, consumers are looking to save a few bucks when they can amid inflationary pressures and higher food prices. During the first quarter of the year, customer visits to restaurants and foodservice outlets that took advantage of a deal rose by 8%, Circana analysis found.

The increase in visits of consumers looking to save some cash helped total commercial foodservice visits rise by...

Restaurant Loyalty Program Points and Rewards Redemption Increased by 26% 

Lingering inflation and higher food prices in the first quarter of 2023 had many foodservice consumers looking for a deal. Customer visits to restaurants and retail foodservice outlets that took advantage of a deal rose by 8% in the quarter ending March compared to a year ago, reports Circana, formerly IRI and The NPD Group. The increase in deal visits helped to grow total commercial foodservice visits by 1% over a year ago, a traffic gain after four consecutive quarters of flat or declining growth.

Although 73% of all foodservice...

Circana: Consumers Keeping Close Eye on Food Spending, Opting for Lower Cost, Value

Consumer insights firm Circana reported that U.S. consumers are managing higher food costs by shopping at value retailers and capping their spending on non-food purchases, among other methods.

Circana’s findings follow the April Consumer Price Index (CPI), which saw inflation moderate overall, but food prices rise by 7.7% between April 2022 and April 2023. Circana noted that alongside the rise in food prices, consumers are faced with credit debt, depletion of savings built during the pandemic and cutbacks on credits and...

Amy Marentic Joins Circana as President, Global Solutions

Circana, the world’s leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior, today announced Amy Marentic has joined the company as president, Global Solutions. Marentic joins Circana from Google, where she was director of Global Client Agency Services. Marentic succeeds Nishat Mehta, who has decided to depart Circana following six transformational years leading and growing the company’s Media, Product, and Data Science teams.

“I am confident Amy is the ideal next leader for our Global Solutions business, with unique experience helping the world’s largest and most recognized advertisers grow their businesses through technology...

Circana: China’s Foodservice Industry Showing Signs of Recovery

China’s foodservice industry received a much-needed boost in the third quarter of 2022 as government-mandated COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. However, that boost was met with a Q4 decline. The start of 2023 has shown that the industry in China is back on track, according to the latest findings from Circana Market Intelligence, formerly IRI and The NPD Group.

Circana’s latest “China Foodservice Market Sentiment Snapshot” broke down how the impact of outbreaks and lockdowns set forth in 2022 had a massive impact across 22 cities tracked in China...

Inflation Continues to Drive FMCG Sales Value Growth Across Europe’s Six Largest Markets

Ahead of its latest biannual 'FMCG Demand Signals' report which covers Total Store Data, Circana (formerly IRI and The NPD Group), has today revealed softening of demand in unit sales across the six largest markets in Europe (France, Italy, Germany, Spain, UK and Netherlands) - a decline of -1.1% on an annual basis, deepening further by -1.4% in Q4 2022. This is the fifth consecutive quarter of decline and is not forecast to return to normalcy until the end of 2023.

Forensically unpacking the impact of the...

Circana Announces Top 50 US Restaurant Rankings

Circana, formerly IRI and The NPD Group, has ranked the top 50 U.S. restaurant chains based on sales estimates representing each chain’s total U.S. system for 2022. In the 12 months ending December 2022, aggregate sales for the top 50 chains grew 5% in the 12 months ending December 2022, from $269 billion in 2021 to $283 billion.

The composition of Circana’s top 50 restaurant chains remained relatively stable compared to the 2021 list, with only one chain, Del Taco, breaking into the list to displace TGI Fridays. The top eleven... 

Morning Meal Restaurant Traffic Fully Recovers from Pandemic Losses

Circana, formerly IRI and The NPD Group, found that the restaurant industry continued to recover from losses linked to the COVID-19 pandemic in February, with traffic up 2% compared to a year ago.

Quickservice restaurants (qsr), which represent well over 80% of restaurant industry visits, jumped 3% in February when compared to 2022.

A look at full service restaurant traffic shows a 2% decline thanks to a notable 13% dip in dinner traffic, although full service eateries saw increased visits during morning meal and lunch.

Speaking of morning meals...

Inflation Still Top of Mind for Restaurant Operators and Consumers

According to recent research, inflation remains the number one focus for restaurant operators and their paying customers.

Findings out of TD Bank’s recent survey, which was unveiled at the 2022 Restaurant Finance and Development Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, found that the number one challenge for restaurants in 2023 is inflation. 300 restaurant franchise operators and other finance professionals provided their takes in the survey that aimed to display restaurant franchise finance trends.

Alongside TD’s poll, Circana, the new brand that was formerly IRI and...

$2.9 Trillion U.S. Consumer Retail Market is Set for Repositioning, Reports Circana

Consumer demand is declining across nearly every U.S. discretionary general merchandise and consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, even as elevated prices recede from peak levels. At the Growth Summit 2023, presented by Circana, formerly IRI and The NPD Group, Don Unser and Marshal Cohen look below the surface of current retail performance in this $2.9 trillion market, exploring the possibilities for repositioning retail in the year ahead.

“Consumers have developed a different way of thinking about their purchases as their spending power deteriorated,” said Don Unser...

IRI and NPD Rebrand as Circana, the Leading Advisor on the Complexity of Consumer Behavior

Following their merger in August 2022, Information Resources, Inc. ("IRI") and The NPD Group ("NPD") today unveiled a new combined company name and brand identity: Circana.

Circana™ is the leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior. Through unparalleled technology, advanced analytics, cross-industry data and deep expertise, Circana provides clarity that helps clients take action and unlock business growth.

“We are proud to begin this new chapter together as Circana, a name that conveys our 360-degree, full-circle...