IAB projects a 9.5% US ad-spend rise in 2026 while AI agents scale performance, retention, and automation.

Regulatory crackdowns and trade barriers threaten growth—but its consumer appeal remains strong.

Scout turns answers into ad inventory, using Yahoo’s data scale to fund free AI discovery.

A new policy bans buy-for-me bots without permission, as the retailer looks to control the agentic shopping experience.

The brand is banking on price, simplicity, and selection to win cautious consumers.

This FAQ addresses what financial services marketers, strategists, and insights professionals need to know about credit card trends, payment networks, and marketing opportunities in 2026.

Meta's Q4 revenues jumped 24%, but massive AI capex made it one of its costliest quarters.

Health and wellness is the only category where plans to increase spending outweigh plans to cut back in 2026, according to December 2025 data from CivicScience. That’s why retailers are stepping up their investments in wellness-driven products, services, and in-store experiences, trying to capitalize on consumers’ resolutions well into the new year.

Protein-forward menus and store upgrades aim to create new occasions beyond habitual morning visits.

YouTube is pulling close on reach, but traditional TV still delivers stronger engagement. As viewing shifts across screens, marketers face a growing tradeoff between scale and attention, and they must rethink how YouTube and TV fit together in video plans.

Performance TV drives growth, but weak transparency undermines trust--meaning marketers should be selective about partners and prioritize contextual targeting.

On today's podcast episode, we introduce our 'Unofficial Monthly Retailer Awards', or the U.M.R.A.s, for the 'Most Impactful Campaign', 'Best IRL Initiative', and 'Greatest Under-the-Radar Move'. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, Principal Analyst Sky Canaves, and Analysts Arielle Feger and Rachel Wolff.

Follow-up Search questions now flow into AI Mode, changing results from link lists to closed-loop, conversational research.

AI ads mistaken for human-made drive high CTRs, showing AI works best when uncanny cues are avoided.

Our analysts (or “bakers”) compete in a Great British Bake Off–style episode, discussing how AI will automate credit card rewards personalization and what happens when Agentic AI turns mobile banking into a personal financial concierge. Join the discussion with guest host Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Senior Analyst Grace Broadbent, and Principal Analyst Tiffani Montez.

Reels ad impressions on Instagram jumped from 13% to 21% of total impressions YoY, the fastest-growing placement on the platform, according to a July 2025 report from Tinuiti.

In the coming year, experts believe retailers will aim to consolidate their operations and link retail media silos with broader organizations.

This FAQ examines the current state of drone delivery, why scaling has proven difficult, and what retail strategists should consider before making investment decisions.

Companies are cutting jobs to manage costs amid uneven demand and persistent margin pressure.