Deloitte Insights

In 2026 the gap between AI’s promise and practical impact may narrow but not close. Progress is likely to come from scaling work such as data hygiene, systems integration, governance, and pricing. TMT may play a central enabling role across industries, while compute demand, chip supply risks, and regulation could keep leaders cautious. Explore our newest TMT Predictions report to discover more: https://delo.tt/60487gzkY

China's growth has weakened significantly in recent years after gangbuster growth over the past several decades. According to Deloitte’s Chief Global Economist, Ira Kalish, China's government has attempted to boost domestic demand through both fiscal and monetary stimulus, as well as some structural reforms, especially considering that Chinese exports increasingly face significant headwinds, both with US tariffs as well as with other countries considering restrictions on trade with China. But the efforts to boost domestic demand have so far not borne fruit. Instead, what we’ve seen lately is a weakening of several significant statistics, including retail sales, industrial production, and fixed asset investment. For more, explore our Weekly Global Economic Update: 🔗https://delo.tt/60497gOd1 #DeloitteInsights #Economy #China #Trade #EconomicUpdate

Deloitte's latest #HolidayTravelSurvey results indicate continued enthusiasm for travel, but tighter #travel budgets, primarily driven by financial concerns. For the first time in at least five years, more than half of surveyed Americans plan to travel between Thanksgiving and early January, but most will stay with family or friends instead of paying for lodging. In another indicator of a softer season, high-income Americans are planning to make cuts that could be felt across travel supplier categories: https://delo.tt/60477kGbF Authors: Eileen Crowley, Kate Ferrara, Matt Soderberg, Matt Josephson, Maggie Rauch and Upasana Naik Art by Sofia Laviano

A Deloitte survey of more than 4,000 US consumers shows #HolidayShoppers plan to be more discerning this year. Winning them over will take more than just discounts. How can #retailers rise to the challenge? Stephen Rogers, managing director of Deloitte's Consumer Industry Center, draws on insights from an analysis of nearly 1 million consumer assessments across 290 brands to explore how retailers can succeed this #HolidaySeason. Watch the video to learn more.

#AI is transforming business, but scaling up computing power can send costs soaring. Deloitte surveyed 60 #DataCenter executives to uncover how organizations are managing AI infrastructure to fuel innovation, while still keeping cloud bills in check. Read this article by Diana Kearns-Manolatos (she/her) to learn how leading companies are balancing AI growth with #CostOptimization: https://delo.tt/60487pn5k Art by Molly Piersol

What’s driving the US #LaborMarket slowdown? According to Deloitte’s Chief Global Economist, Ira Kalish, three forces are reshaping growth: ongoing trade uncertainty, tighter immigration policy, and a recalibration of #GenerativeAI investment. In the absence of stronger productivity gains, slower employment growth combined with rising layoffs could indicate a broader slowdown in overall economic growth. For additional analysis, read the latest Weekly Global Economic Update: https://delo.tt/60447nmau #DeloitteInsights # EconomicUpdate #Tariffs #AIInvestiment

How can leaders price goods when the cost of supplies and materials seems to be a moving target? Among the 200 CFOs who participated in the latest North American CFO Signals survey, 86% say pricing will become much more important or somewhat more important to their organization’s financial performance over the next 12 months. And 95% of respondents say they’ve changed their pricing strategies over the past six months, due in part to uncertainty around tariffs. Organizations have several ways to defray the costs of higher customs levies, some of which could be short-term solutions. About half of respondents (48%) say their organizations would pass at least some of the costs on to customers, putting them at risk of customer defections. (See “figure 3” from the North American CFO Signals survey below.) The same percentage plan to cut operational costs. Meanwhile, 44% say their organizations would most likely absorb some or most of the cost increases, and 41% plan to ask suppliers to absorb these costs. Organizations can also turn to nonpricing levers, such as reconfiguring products or service level agreements, to address rising costs. More than half (52%) of respondents say their companies are making changes to service levels to address cost challenges and customer negotiations, and 47% plan to offer different warrantee terms. Companies could gain a competitive advantage by setting new prices quickly, but it’s not always easy to make fast moves. Respondents point to technology-related challenges, such as lack of accessible data (55%) and inadequate pricing tools (50%) as top hurdles to more agile price adjustments. (See “figure 4” below.) Another common—and more fundamental—problem for 54% of respondents is that their organization lacks a cohesive pricing strategy or plan. Despite these obstacles, many CFOs surveyed express confidence in their organizations’ ability to address pricing issues and opportunities, and 81% describe their organization’s pricing process as very mature or mature. Read more from Deloitte’s quarterly CFO Signals survey: https://delo.tt/60497PJ1T Authors: Steve Gallucci and John Goff

What if your biggest workforce challenge isn't uncertainty, but how you plan for it? Traditional workforce planning is struggling to keep pace with AI disruption, shifting skills, and always-on change. To stay competitive, organizations need an adaptive, data-driven approach that can flex people and work in real time. Discover the five key shifts redefining workforce planning, and how leading organizations are turning uncertainty into advantage. Read more: https://delo.tt/604673iny

Investment in #GenerativeAI is fueling economic growth, but it’s also introducing new challenges. Deloitte’s Chief Global Economist, Ira Kalish, reports that #AIInvestment drove 90% of real US GDP growth in early 2025. Yet this surge is already reshaping labor markets, as young college graduates find it increasingly difficult to secure roles in an evolving, automated economy. As AI continues to accelerate, how will organizations cultivate human capital—and what skills will prepare the future workforce to thrive? For more insight into this topic and all things economics, check out our Weekly Global Economic Update: https://lnkd.in/ggdnBYiK #GlobalEconomy #EconomicUpdate #DeloitteInsights

Holiday shopping stress is real. From delivery delays to digital clutter, Deloitte’s 2025 survey of more than 4,000 US consumers reveals the top frustrations consumers say they encounter while #HolidayShopping. And with consumers expecting to trim their budgets by 10% since last year, every negative experience hits harder. Michael Jeschke, retail and consumer products leader at Deloitte Consulting LLP, breaks down some of the most common holiday shopping pain points and shares strategies #retailers can consider to improve the customer experience.