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Plunkett's Retail Industry Almanac 2026: Retail Industry Market Research, Statistics, Trends and Leading Companies

Publisher Plunkett Research, Ltd.
Published Dec 22, 2025
Length 641 Pages
SKU # PLK20678781

Description

PLUNKETT'S RETAIL INDUSTRY ALMANAC 2026

Key Findings:

A complete market research report, including forecasts and market estimates, technologies analysis and developments at innovative firms within the Retail Industry. Gain vital insights that can help shape strategy for business development, product development and investments.

Key Features:
  • Business trends analysis
  • In-depth industry overview
  • Technology trends analysis
  • Forecasts
  • Spending, investment, and consumption discussions
  • In-depth industry statistics and metrics
  • Industry employment numbers
Additional Key Features Include:

Industry Glossary

Industry Contacts list, including Professional Societies and Industry Associations

Profiles of industry-leading companies
  • U.S. and Global Firms
  • Publicly held, Private and Subsidiaries
  • Executive Contacts
  • Revenues
  • For Public Companies: Detailed Financial Summaries
  • Statistical Tables
Key Questions Answered Include:
  • How is the industry evolving?
  • How is the industry being shaped by new technologies?
  • How is demand growing in emerging markets and mature economies?
  • What is the size of the market now and in the future?
  • What are the financial results of the leading companies?
  • What are the names and titles of top executives?
  • What are the top companies and what are their revenues?
This feature-rich report covers competitive intelligence, market research and business analysis—everything you need to know about the Retail Industry.

Plunkett Research Provides Unique Analysis of the Following Major Trends Affecting the Retail Industry

1. Major Trends Affecting the Retail Industry
2. Introduction to the Retail Industry
3. Walmart Still Leads the Retail Industry, but Invests Heavily in Web Presence to Battle Amazon
4. ALDI Scores Big Market Share in the U.S., UK and Europe with its Discount Supermarkets and Aggressive Investment/Walmart Dominates Grocery Retailing
5. Department Stores Grow Online Sales/ Modernize Retail Approach
6. Private Label Brands Grow in Share of Total Store Sales
7. Diverse Selling Techniques Boost Direct Marketers and Non-Store Sales
8. Apple Sets the Bar for Showcase Stores and Super-Merchandisers
9. Bricks, Clicks and Catalogs Create Synergies While Online Sales Growth Surges
10. AI Impacts Retail/Creates Efficiencies in Inventory and Operations
11. Designers and Manufacturers Bypass the Middleman with Direct-to-Consumer Online Business Models
12. Retail Technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advance for Store Checkout and Restaurant Orders
13. Robotics in Retailing and Ecommerce Fulfillment
14. RFID Drives Inventory Management Evolution
15. Digital Wallets Gain Payments Market Share
16. Self-Service Apparel Fitting Technologies Grow
17. Retailers Look for Long-Term Growth in Emerging Markets, Including China and India
18. Malls and Shopping Centers Adapt to New Technologies and Ecommerce
19. Entertainment-Based Retailing, including Power Towns
20. Malls Remodel & Update Strategies to Boost Sales and Attract Shoppers
21. Fast Fashion: Designers and Retailers Speed Up
22. LOHAS-Socially Conscious Consumers Create Challenges and Opportunities for Advertisers and Marketers
23. Plus-Size and Vanity Sizing Target Overweight Consumers
24. Demand for Home Grocery Delivery Service Such as Instacart and Amazon Fresh Soars
25. Super Beauty Stores Combine Shopping with Personal Care Services
26. Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality and 3-D Technologies Create Opportunities for the Tech Industry/Immersion Games to Grow
27. How to Interpret Reports of Retail Sales

Plunkett Research Provides In-Depth Tables for the Following Retail Industry Statistics

1. U.S. Retail Industry Statistics and Market Size Overview
2. Annual Consumer Price Index, 1920-2025, U.S.
3. Exports, General Imports & Trade Balance in Goods, U.S.: 1990-2024
4. Total U.S. Retail Sales & Annual Percent Change: 1993 - July 2025
5. U.S. Retail Trade Corporation Statistics, 2nd Quarter 2025
6. Total Annual Sales of Merchant Wholesalers, U.S.: 2019-2024
7. Retail & Food Services Sales by Kind of Business, U.S.: 2019-2024
8. Total U.S. Disposable Income, Expenditures & Gross Domestic & National Product Per Capita: Selected Years, 1960-2024
9. Average Annual Expenditures of All Consumer Households: 2018-2023, U.S.
10. Distribution of Total U.S. Annual Household Expenditures, by Major Category: 2023
11. Resident Population Estimates by Age, U.S.: 2021-2024
12. Employment in the Retail Industry, U.S.: 2018-July 2025
13. Estimated Quarterly U.S. Retail and Ecommerce Sales: 1st Quarter 2014-2nd Quarter 2025

Table of Contents

641 Pages
Introduction
How to Use This Book
Chapter 1: Major Trends Affecting the Retail Industry
1) Major Trends Affecting the Retail Industry
2) Introduction to the Retail Industry
3) Walmart Still Leads the Retail Industry, but Invests Heavily in Web Presence to Battle Amazon
4) ALDI Scores Big Market Share in the U.S., UK and Europe with its Discount Supermarkets and Aggressive Investment/Walmart Dominates Grocery Retailing
5) Department Stores Grow Online Sales/ Modernize Retail Approach
6) Private Label Brands Grow in Share of Total Store Sales
7) Diverse Selling Techniques Boost Direct Marketers and Non-Store Sales
8) Apple Sets the Bar for Showcase Stores and Super-Merchandisers
9) Bricks, Clicks and Catalogs Create Synergies While Online Sales Growth Surges
10) AI Impacts Retail/Creates Efficiencies in Inventory and Operations
11) Designers and Manufacturers Bypass the Middleman with Direct-to-Consumer Online Business Models
12) Retail Technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advance for Store Checkout and Restaurant Orders
13) Robotics in Retailing and Ecommerce Fulfillment
14) RFID Drives Inventory Management Evolution
15) Digital Wallets Gain Payments Market Share
16) Self-Service Apparel Fitting Technologies Grow
17) Retailers Look for Long-Term Growth in Emerging Markets, Including China and India
18) Malls and Shopping Centers Adapt to New Technologies and Ecommerce
19) Entertainment-Based Retailing, including Power Towns
20) Malls Remodel & Update Strategies to Boost Sales and Attract Shoppers
21) Fast Fashion: Designers and Retailers Speed Up
22) LOHAS-Socially Conscious Consumers Create Challenges and Opportunities for Advertisers and Marketers
23) Plus-Size and Vanity Sizing Target Overweight Consumers
24) Demand for Home Grocery Delivery Service Such as Instacart and Amazon Fresh Soars
25) Super Beauty Stores Combine Shopping with Personal Care Services
26) Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality and 3-D Technologies Create Opportunities for the Tech Industry/Immersion Games to Grow
27) How to Interpret Reports of Retail Sales
Chapter 2: Retail Industry Statistics
U.S. Retail Industry Statistics and Market Size Overview
Annual Consumer Price Index, 1920-2025, U.S.
Exports, General Imports & Trade Balance in Goods, U.S.: 1990-2024
Total U.S. Retail Sales & Annual Percent Change: 1993 - July 2025
U.S. Retail Trade Corporation Statistics, 2nd Quarter 2025
Total Annual Sales of Merchant Wholesalers, U.S.: 2019-2024
Retail & Food Services Sales by Kind of Business, U.S.: 2019-2024
Total U.S. Disposable Income, Expenditures & Gross Domestic & National Product Per Capita: Selected Years, 1960-2024
Average Annual Expenditures of All Consumer Households: 2018-2023, U.S.
Distribution of Total U.S. Annual Household Expenditures, by Major Category: 2023
Resident Population Estimates by Age, U.S.: 2021-2024
Employment in the Retail Industry, U.S.: 2018-July 2025
Estimated Quarterly U.S. Retail and Ecommerce Sales: 1st Quarter 2014-2nd Quarter 2025
Chapter 3: Important Retail Industry Contacts
(Addresses, Phone Numbers and Internet Sites)
Chapter 4: THE RETAIL 500:
Who They Are and How They Were Chosen
Index of Companies Within Industry Groups
Alphabetical Index
Index of U.S. Headquarters Location by State
Index of Non-U.S. Headquarters Location by Country
Individual Data Profiles on Each of THE RETAIL 500
Additional Indexes
Index of Hot Spots for Advancement for Women/Minorities
Index by Subsidiaries, Brand Names and Selected Affiliations
A Short Retail Industry Glossary

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