The Retail Rundown: Egg Retail Looks Ahead to Holiday Baking Demand 

Grocers are entering a key period for egg demand, as seasonal baking and an uptick in home cooking typically support purchases toward year-end. However, the holiday boost has yet to translate into stronger consumer demand, with feature activity easing in recent weeks.

According to the USDA’s latest Feature Activity report, national egg feature activity declined to 39.5% from 45.8% the previous week, but remained above the 32.1% during the same period last year. 

At retail, shelf prices remain largely unchanged, while wholesale egg prices are hovering at multi-year lows, potentially...

Affordability Shapes Winter Holiday Shopping, According to NRF Holiday Survey

More than half of holiday shoppers (56%) say the state of the economy will affect their holiday spending plans this year, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual consumer survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. Among those consumers, 43% plan to shop for sales more often, 31% will comparison shop online more often and 29% will use coupons more often, among other strategies to make the season more affordable.

“With affordability top of mind, holiday shoppers are taking a thoughtful approach to spending, balancing value with preserving traditions that make the holiday season special,” NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Allison Zeller said...

NRF Forecasts 2026 Holiday Sales Growth as Consumers Remain Resilient

The National Retail Federation today [October 15, 2026] released its annual holiday forecast, predicting retail sales in November and December will grow 4.2% over 2025. That translates to total spending of $1.013 trillion. By comparison, last year’s holiday sales rose 3.1% over 2024 totaling $972 billion.

“This year’s forecast reflects our confidence that consumers will prioritize the holiday season even as they remain mindful of their budgets,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Retailers are prepared to meet that demand with competitive prices, value and choices for every budget.”

“We head into the holiday season with strong spending momentum, as consumers remain the bright spot in the economy...

Circana Tells Advertisers to Start Holiday 2026 Planning Earlier

Advertisers should start planning for the 2026 holidays earlier as shoppers increasingly discover products through social platforms, creators and AI tools, according to new guidance from Circana.

In its report, How Advertisers Should Prepare for Holiday 2026, the market research firm recommends that brands and media teams begin holiday activity ahead of traditional peak periods, build social and creator discovery into media plans, optimize product data for AI-assisted shopping and measure results across channels.

The case for an earlier start is reflected in Circana’s 2025...