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.

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

Claire’s sales sparkle ahead of potential IPO

Over the past several years, teen-focused jewelry retailer Claire’s Stores Inc went from filing for bankruptcy to filing for an IPO, as the company gradually expanded its offerings to attract new customers and experimented with different omnichannel strategies. Our analysis of U.S. consumer spending data since 2019 found that a higher proportion of the company’s … Continued

Janine Perri — 14 Dec 2022

With the 2022 holiday season underway, how did Walmart, Target, and Best Buy perform during Black Friday week?

As the battle for consumer spending intensifies in the 2022 holiday season, Bloomberg Second Measure analyzed three major big-box retailers known for their Black Friday events—Walmart Inc (NYSE: WMT), Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT), and Best Buy Co, Inc (NYSE: BBY)—to see how they fared during Black Friday week. Using consumer transaction data, we found that … Continued

Janine Perri — 12 Dec 2022