The back-to-school season will follow a disappointing 2015 holiday season and winter for many US retailers, but the remainder of 2016 should bring some moderate improvement. eMarketer expects US retail sales will increase 2.6% in 2016, up from 1.4% growth in 2015, as explored in a new eMarketer report, “Back-to-School Shopping Preview 2016: The Shift to Ecommerce Accelerates” (eMarketer PRO customers only).
Although a modestly better US retail climate should provide a tonic for some iconic retail brands, such as Macy’s, Target and Best Buy—which posted disappointing earnings in Q1 2016—it won’t be a cure.
