Hello, Quartz members, and welcome to Sunday Reads!
Well, you must have done your holiday shopping this year because retail sales are up, and it seems like most of you spent your money in brick-and-mortar stores, according to the Visa card people. You may also have bought a Christmas or seasonal tree (that’s getting to be a big business) and dug into a hefty meal. Hopefully, you’ve digested it all and are well rested, because it’s Sunday, and time to shift your gaze to some hand-selected reads. Here are some of our favorite Quartz stories from the week, plus a sneak peek at one story coming next week to get your day started.
Suggested Reading
What the experts are saying about the major economic trends that will shape 2025
7 home improvements that don't actually add value to your house
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5 things we especially liked on Quartz
🎁Christmas shopping IRL. When it comes to holiday shopping, Americans like to do it live. That’s the finding from a talley of payments made in stores across the U.S. and published by Visa on Monday. In fact, 77% of payments were made in-store, and only 23% were made online. Rocio Fabbro crunches the numbers.
🏬Whither retail in 2025? It’s going to be a whole new world out there for retailers in the coming year as new trends emerge and old ones die or come back. Analytics firm Placer.ai has some key findings. Here’s one: Millennials, now aged 28 to 43, are more crucial than ever for retailers aiming to drive growth. Francisco Velasquez has the details.
👕Brand evolution. Private-label brands are having a moment in 2024, and it’s no coincidence that some of the biggest winners include Walmart’s Bettergoods and Target’s Dealworthy. These house brands have seen explosive growth, with sales surging over 200%. Francisco Velasquez takes a walk down the aisles.
💉The skinny on fake skinny. Skyrocketing demand for Wegovy and other weight-loss drugs has boosted business for another line of work: online scams. How to protect yourself? First of all, all semaglutides require a prescription. Bruce Gil has more details on how to fend off the phisers and fakers.
🧠The new market in AI investment. The draw of getting in on AI is serving as a gateway for well-heeled investors to pour more money into a wider array of private companies, wealth managers and others say. Rocio Fabbro explains.
1 sneak peek
🏡Where not to rent: Renters across the U.S. faced an extremely competitive market this year, with high occupancy rates and lease renewals leaving renters with limited options. If you’re wondering where not to live, Rocio Fabbro has a list of the 10 most competitive rental markets in the U.S.
Thanks for reading! Here’s to the week ahead, and don’t hesitate to reach out with comments, questions, feedback, joy, or fake weight-loss treatments. Sunday Reads was brought to you by Peter S. Green.