CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor

The retail landscape closed out Q4 2025 with solid momentum despite economic uncertainty, as consumers remained engaged heading into the holidays. Affinity Solutions’ 2025 Q4 Trend Report and Year in Review delivers a comprehensive view of how shoppers allocated their spending across categories, demographics, and key retail moments, powered by deterministic, real‑time transaction data from more than 95 million U.S. consumers. The findings reveal a consumer who never checked out but became increasingly selective, keeping overall retail growth positive even as spending shifted toward essentials and lifestyle-driven discretionary purchases.  

This analysis highlights where demand strengthened, where consumers pulled back, and how spending evolved month-to-month and year-to-year. It also uncovers how age and income groups approached value and what these behaviors signal for navigating a value-focused 2026, grounded entirely in real consumer behavior rather than sentiment.  

What you'll learn: 

• Quarterly and full-year performance, including month-by-month breakdowns 

• How Q4 spending compares with earlier quarters and prior years 

• Q4 spending patterns across income and age groups, and what they reveal about shifting consumer priorities 

• Category performance analysis through both year-over-year and month-over-month lenses 

• A full-year look at how retail evolved in 2025 by category and month and how it compares with previous years 

Download the full report to guide and optimize your 2026 retail strategy.