Can Retail Cope with An Energy Price Shock?
March 15, 2026
Higher oil and energy costs are expected to squeeze discretionary spending in key markets, putting apparel and other non-essential retail under pressure in Q2.
MARKETS
Solid consumer spending and a resilient labor will continue to prop up the economy in the coming year, economists at Goldman Sachs said in a year-ahead forecast.
However many people from industry are less confident.
Please login to continue reading
Markets
Higher oil and energy costs are expected to squeeze discretionary spending in key markets, putting apparel and other non-essential retail under pressure in Q2.
A fragile revenue recovery is facing pressure from tariffs, higher operating costs, and the cost of ongoing transformation programs.
In uncertain markets, heritage brands are rediscovering that reputation, craft, and continuity can outperform reinvention.
Asia and South America are driving retail expansion, but success will depend on precise positioning in the value-driven mid-market.
Winning retailers are abandoning expansion for expansion’s sake, focusing instead on tightly defined assortments built around clear customer value.
© 2026-27 Inside Fashion Ltd.