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Retail and restaurant industry outlook

April 30, 2026

Key takeaways

cost inflation

Cost inflation and weak traffic are widening the gap between retail and restaurant winners and laggards.

money

Value now means experience and precision pricing—not just lower prices—for cost-conscious consumers.

AI

AI leaders must personalize, cut waste and enable agentic commerce, not just reduce operating costs.

TREND: Winning with precision

The challenges ahead for retail and restaurant businesses demand surgical precision in capital allocation, a fundamental rethinking of value propositions, and the readiness to turn artificial intelligence tools into AI-powered capabilities that just months ago seemed futuristic. Learn more.

RSM contributors

  • Peter Ramer
    Peter Ramer
    Consumer Products Senior Analyst
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