Luxury brands are grappling with downturns in the US and China, the largest markets for personal luxury goods, and will have to seize opportunities for growth from new markets and product innovation.

Retailers are prioritizing unified commerce solutions to help gain a complete picture of their business operations—including consumer behavior. As the tech landscape becomes more complex, key players are emerging across channels.

Some 88% of worldwide consumers say not trusting a brand is a dealbreaker when it comes to buying a product or using a service, according to Edelman. But building trust isn’t easy. Trust requires protecting consumer data, being thoughtful about third-party platform use and partnerships, and advertising through the right channels. Here are five key stats marketers can use to improve their brands’ consumer trust.

New revenue-sharing perks could attract more visual content and position the platform to compete with YouTube as video podcasts surge in popularity.

From the rise of sophisticated AI-driven tools to new policies reshaping data privacy and competition, 2025 promises to be a year of relentless change. Companies that adapt will thrive, while others risk being left behind in a swiftly moving market.

The beta feature simplifies music remixing for creators, signaling YouTube’s push to rival TikTok in video innovation.

Social commerce is gaining momentum in the UK—with sales set to double by 2028—as major brands join TikTok and as more people shop on social platforms.

US eCPMs for digital video, display, and audio formats fell in Q2 2024—the average decrease was slight on a QoQ basis but more pronounced on a YoY basis.

Gen Z leads in digital usage by most proportional measures. However, social network use cuts across categories, influencing video viewing and digital buying.

Google defends against DOJ claims of ad monopoly: The giant emphasizes publisher choice and competitive ad exchanges amid trial scrutiny.

Meta and Roblox show how teen safety has become a priority: A year of heavy scrutiny from regulators has prompted similar platforms to overhaul protections.

US beauty demand is normalizing as price sensitivities creep into purchasing behavior: That’s good news for e.l.f. Beauty but an added struggle for Coty and Estée Lauder, for which China remains a hurdle.

After experiencing downturns in recent years, social CPMs are on the rise again in the US, per our forecasts. That’s a sign that brands could invest more in social media ads amid optimism about the economy.

“Sleepmaxxing” is the newest health fad to go viral on TikTok: The social media-inspired trend entails using a range of products, services, and gadgets to optimize one’s sleep. But some ideas have gone too far and are potentially harmful.

ByteDance’s non-China revenues grow 60%: TikTok’s ad and ecommerce prowess drive revenues despite regulatory headwinds in US and China.

High-income consumers are more likely to discover new brands or products in-store, but they typically make the final purchase online.

Companies large and small will net hundreds of billions in US incremental ecommerce and digital ad dollars in the next two years. Who will be the big winners?

Facing regulatory concerns over its purchase incentives and recommendation algorithm, Temu could be forced to revamp its interface or face fines.

How time spent with media, device ownership, and media adoption stack up in Central and Eastern Europe.

The 14th annual Global Media Intelligence Report details time spent with media, adoption of emerging formats, and device ownership in key markets around the world.