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Watch: US retail suffers surprising January sales decline

Reports say retail sales dropped 0.3% in January, the biggest decline in 11 months. Forecasts expected at least a 0.2%, so the drop surprised analysts and retailers alike. The decline has been attributed to household cutbacks on large expenses like cars and building materials. December, previously marked as an 0.2% bump in sales, has been…

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Watch: US retail suffers surprising January sales decline

Reports say retail sales dropped 0.3% in January, the biggest decline in 11 months. Forecasts expected at least a 0.2%, so the drop surprised analysts and retailers alike. The decline has been attributed to household cutbacks on large expenses like cars and building materials. December, previously marked as an 0.2% bump in sales, has been corrected to a flat rate. Consumer spending as a whole grew nearly 4% in Q4 of 2017, posing the question: why retail is so rocky?

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B2B ecommerce pulse: AI agents, marketplace expansion, and digital investment drive mid-2026 momentum

B2B ecommerce pulse: AI agents, marketplace expansion, and digital investment drive mid-2026 momentum

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  • 01Kawasaki Engines USA reported a 500% increase in average order value through its B2B ecommerce channel, according to Digital Commerce 360's coverage of Salesforce Connections 2026.
  • 02The global B2B ecommerce market reached $20.4 trillion in 2024 and is projected to reach $36.1 trillion by 2031, per Grand View Research via Creatuity.
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Zero-click commerce arrives: AI agents set to intermediate $15 trillion in B2B purchases by 2028

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  • 01AI agents will manage $15 trillion in B2B purchases by 2028.
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Zero-click commerce: AI agents set to intermediate $15 trillion in B2B purchases by 2028

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A Gartner projection cited by commercetools places $15 trillion in B2B purchases under AI agent mediation by 2028, pushing procurement entirely past the traditional vendor storefront. Adobe Digital Insights data shows AI-referred traffic already converts 42% more often than non-AI visits as of March 2026 — a full reversal from a year earlier. Together, the figures signal that agentic and AI-assisted commerce have moved from pilot phase to structural infrastructure priority for B2B organizations.

  • 01Gartner forecasts AI agents will intermediate $15 trillion in B2B purchases by 2028, according to commercetools — compressing the timeline for commerce infrastructure upgrades.
  • 02Adobe Digital Insights found that AI-referred traffic converted 42% more often than non-AI traffic in March 2026, reversing a trend from just one year prior.
  • 03Only 18% of B2B companies describe their AI commerce maturity as 'advanced,' according to Boston Consulting Group, leaving most organizations exposed to fast-moving competitors.

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