After a roller coaster of a retail year, 2024 has been unpredictable for retailers. Prices are still high, shopper patterns are shifting and consumers began placing a lot of emphasis on value. Wellness-oriented expenses increased while discretionary spending halted. A Placer.ai report, Retail Trends to Watch in 2025, explains the outlook for the retail sector.
Over the past few years, consumers have strayed from mid-value options and gravitated toward luxury or value offerings. Value offerings saw an explosion as economic uncertainty persisted. In the third quarter of 2024, however, value store visits appeared to plateau, and growth began to lag. While this does not necessarily indicate the end of the discount store era, it does signify a growth ceiling.
This does not mean that consumers necessarily want to spend more, but that they just want to spend smartly. Consumers still want appropriate quality while stretching their dollars. Chains like Trader Joe’s a
