About Data Points

A research blog transforming data into stories about consumer trends. Hundreds of journalists trust our data. We have been cited in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and more.

How do customer acquisition and retention fare for weight-loss programs like Weight Watchers and Nutrisystem?

Eating healthier food and losing weight are popular New Year’s resolutions. Many U.S. consumers sign up with weight-loss programs to aid in their goal, but how likely are they to stick with their new eating habits? Consumer transaction data shows that weight-loss programs like Weight Watchers—owned by WW International, Inc (NASDAQ: WW)—and Nutrisystem see an … Continued

Janine Perri — 16 Feb 2023

Amazon’s holiday sales growth outpaced superstore competitors in 2022

At the end of November 2022, Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced that it saw record sales during the five-day shopping period between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday. But how did the rest of the holiday season fare? Consumer transaction data shows that Amazon’s U.S. consumer sales during the 2022 holiday season exceeded its holiday sales during … Continued

Janine Perri — 31 Jan 2023

Competition heats up among meal kit companies like Blue Apron and HelloFresh

Meal kit companies had sizzling sales in the early months of COVID-19, as consumers turned to subscription services to fulfill basic needs. But in recent years, the industry has seen challenges related to seasonal demand, rising inflation, and high operational and marketing costs. In fact, some meal kit companies like Blue Apron and HelloFresh announced … Continued

Janine Perri — 27 Jan 2023

Etsy.com crafts strong sales in the holiday quarter, while per-visit spend is higher at its resale subsidiaries

Known for vintage and personalized merchandise, online marketplace Etsy (NASDAQ: ETSY) has become a hot destination for holiday shopping in recent years. Despite increased transaction fees for Etsy sellers as well as consumers’ concerns about inflation, consumer transaction data reveals that Etsy.com’s U.S. sales in November and December of 2022 were relatively consistent compared to … Continued

Janine Perri — 19 Jan 2023

Holiday spending trends paint a rosy picture at Ulta and Sephora

Beauty companies like Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA) have been in the spotlight over the past several months, in response to rising cosmetic sales in the wake of high inflation and economic uncertainty (a phenomenon sometimes referred to as the “lipstick effect”). In fact, Ulta recently surpassed investors’ expectations in its third quarter earnings report and … Continued

Janine Perri — 17 Jan 2023

Shein holds largest U.S. fast fashion market share

Shein has experienced a meteoric rise in the U.S. fast fashion market, with its sales overtaking established competitors such as H&M and Zara during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using U.S. consumer spending data, we analyzed how Shein sales have boomed over the past few years, as well as how other fast fashion companies have fared.

Janine Perri — 04 Jan 2023