Global Scans · Retail · Weekly Summary

• [New] AI platform-driven retail ecommerce sales will grow 278.1% in 2026 to reach $20.57 billion. eMarketer
• [New] As AI becomes more embedded in retail operations in 2026, success will depend less on the technology itself and more on how prepared organizations are to use it. Clarkston Consulting
• [New] 98% of retail executives expect to achieve full AI deployment by 2028. Clarkston Consulting
• [New] Most retailers will have their own autonomous AI agents by the end of 2026. Sharp Eye
• [New] Over 1,000 Jack-in-the-Box stores will be undergoing a multi-year reimagining, as will more than 1,000 Starbucks locations in 2026. Food Republic
• [New] U.S. retailers will close about 7,900 stores in 2026, a 4.5% drop year over year. CNBC
• [New] Retail openings in the US are expected to rise about 4% in 2026, with closings down by a similar margin. CRE Daily
• [New] Forrester expects retail media spending in Europe to more than double, reaching $43 billion by 2030. Forrester
• [New] E-commerce sales: E-commerce sales will account for 21% of total retail sales by 2030. Forrester
• [New] Total retail sales: Total retail sales will reach €2.8 trillion in 2030; retail growth over the next five years will be equally divided across in-store and e-commerce sales. Forrester
• [New] Cavernous stores that feature a large assortment of general merchandise and groceries along with online fulfilment capabilities could be a better fit for Amazon than its ventures into smaller locations like c-stores, book stores and apparel outlets. Grocery Dive
• [New] Stronger-than-anticipated economic data, including robust January purchasing managers' figures and December retail sales, have raised hopes for faster economic growth in early 2026. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] AI-generated fraud will be the frontline threat for retailers in 2026. Fisher Phillips
• [New] Industries from healthcare to retail will generate an enormous amount of data in the coming years. Westford Online
• [New] Digital payments now account for nearly 79% of retail transactions, supported by continued double-digit growth under Vision 2030 reforms. mea-finance.com
• [New] In 2026, retailers and e-commerce companies will have a plentiful grab bag of innovations, growth levers, and resilience-enablers at their disposal. Vertex, Inc.
• [New] FIS cites McKinsey forecasts predicting that agentic commerce could generate up to $1 trillion in orchestrated US retail revenue by 2030, and potentially $3 trillion to $5 trillion globally. The Fintech Times
• [New] By 2026, the biggest threat to IoT in retail is no longer connectivity, but Data Gravity and Cyber-Physical Security. Emerline
• [New] By 2026, the integration of IoT with AI and Edge computing will move retail operations from reactive to proactive. Emerline
• [New] After announcing in September that it would close hundreds of less profitable stores, Starbucks said it now expects to open up to 175 new U.S. coffee shops in 2026 and around 400 in 2028. Boston Herald
• [New] SpaceX's scale and brand recognition could attract both institutional and retail investors worldwide. The Milli Chronicle
• [New] The economic cost of food waste across the global retail and food supply chain is forecast to reach $540 billion in 2026, up from $526 billion last year. Site name

Last updated: 12 February 2026