Holiday retail sales are up nearly 4.9% this season. "Giftology" author John Ruhlin shares his picks for the top trends in gifts for the 2017 holiday season.
The top trends this year include personalization, being locally made, artificial intelligence enabled selection, conscious capitalism, and practicality over novelty. Ruhlin says Amazon's launch of Marketplace is a great example of how the e-commerce giant is capitalizing on the growing popularity of personalization.
Shoppers spent more than $800 billion during this holiday season according to Reuters. Ruhlin says ultimately its the story that sells to consumers.
Elizabeth Renter, Senior Economist at NerdWallet, breaks down how inflation and oil price shocks are driving higher costs and squeezing consumers today.
David Branch of Wells Fargo explains why cocoa prices are falling but some candy costs remain high and when consumers may finally see relief at checkout.
Colonel Chris Hadfield, astronaut and best-selling author, breaks down Artemis II and why NASA’s next crewed mission is key to returning humans to the Moon.
Ben Geman, Energy Reporter at Axios, explains how the Iran war could reshape global energy—disrupting supply, shifting power, and accelerating a new regime.
Emily Peck, National Correspondent at Axios, explains why office vacancies hit 21% despite RTO pushes, highlighting a lasting shift in how Americans work.
Tobias Bauer, CEO & President of Rolling Stock at Siemens Mobility North America, shares insights on a $220M investment reshaping U.S. rail infrastructure.
