Consumers are still spending, but their priorities are changing.

Barbara Kahn, professor of marketing at the Wharton School, explains why retail sales remain resilient despite inflation and economic uncertainty.

She explores the growing demand for value, wellness, and memorable experiences, the challenges facing aspirational luxury brands, and the uneven performance of shopping malls. Kahn also discusses how retailers can respond to changing consumer behavior while managing inventory, debt, costs, and expansion.

Comments

New This Week

The Psychology Behind Back-to-School Shopping
Podcast

The Psychology Behind Back-to-School Shopping

August 4, 202613 min listen

Patti Williams, Wharton associate professor of marketing, explains how back-to-school shopping blends family decisions, identity, nostalgia, budgets, and retail strategy.

How Credit Risk Is Factored in Corporate Bond Spreads

How Credit Risk Is Factored in Corporate Bond Spreads

August 3, 20267 min read

Recent Wharton research explains a long-standing puzzle in bond pricing to provide a more reliable foundation for evaluating corporate credit risk.

How Negotiation Skills Empower Girls

How Negotiation Skills Empower Girls

August 3, 20265 min read

A decade-long Wharton study in Zambia found that a short course helped girls stay in school, delay marriage, and deliver strong returns on public funding at low cost.