Below you'll find the top 50 retail trends for 2026, spotted by Rising Trends's trend radar algorithm.
These topics were detected from online sources including TikTok, X (Twitter), Instagram, Reddit, news outlets, and Google Search data. Each trend has at least 1,000+ monthly searches and over 20% year-over-year growth.
All retail trends with over 20% year-over-year growth, ranked by search volume.
| # | Topic | 5Y Trend | Search Vol. | Growth 1Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asian Grocery Store Near Me | 301,000 | +50% | |
| 2 | Dumpling Squishy | 301,000 | +99X | |
| 3 | Affordable Mobile Plans | 246,000 | 20X | |
| 4 | Rufus | 165,000 | +22% | |
| 5 | Cell Phone Parts Wholesale | 90,500 | +99X | |
| 6 | Laundromats For Sale | 74,000 | +22% | |
| 7 | Gourmet Grocery Store | 60,500 | +123% | |
| 8 | Mega Kangaskhan Ex Box | 49,500 | +99X | |
| 9 | Pampers Swaddlers | 40,500 | +22% | |
| 10 | Vietnamese Coffee Near Me | 33,100 | +49% | |
| 11 | Hearing Aids Near Me | 33,100 | +22% | |
| 12 | Usmca | 27,100 | +50% | |
| 13 | 3d Filament Near Me | 22,200 | +50% | |
| 14 | Digital Mirrors | 22,200 | +666% | |
| 15 | Esquie Plush | 22,200 | +99X | |
| 16 | Pomni Plushie | 18,100 | +22% | |
| 17 | Blind Box Figurines | 14,800 | +517% | |
| 18 | Laundry Stain Remover | 14,800 | +517% | |
| 19 | Pay Later | 14,800 | +49% | |
| 20 | Inventory Management Software | 14,800 | +22% | |
| 21 | Brake Caliper Compression Tool | 12,100 | +49% | |
| 22 | Omnichannel Contact Center | 12,100 | 25X | |
| 23 | 4x6 Envelopes | 12,100 | +49% | |
| 24 | Goods Disposal Service | 12,100 | +22% | |
| 25 | Ai Vending Machine | 9,900 | 31X | |
| 26 | Deep Clean Laundry Detergent | 8,100 | 31X | |
| 27 | Black Friday Electronics Deals | 8,100 | +179% | |
| 28 | Global Village Coffeehouse | 8,100 | +179% | |
| 29 | Tiny Bookshop Switch | 8,100 | 74X | |
| 30 | Appliance Discount Stores Near Me | 4,400 | +52% | |
| 31 | Dupe Website | 4,400 | +22% | |
| 32 | Luxury Watch Dealer | 4,400 | +83% | |
| 33 | Purple Tool Box | 4,400 | +22% | |
| 34 | Self-checkout Kiosks | 4,400 | +646% | |
| 35 | Spider Slides | 3,600 | 26X | |
| 36 | Riggy Plush | 3,600 | +260% | |
| 37 | Nostalgic Toy | 3,600 | +50% | |
| 38 | Brand Risk | 3,600 | +260% | |
| 39 | Totally Rad Vintage Fest | 3,600 | +89% | |
| 40 | Target Woolrich | 2,900 | +99X | |
| 41 | Bodega Cafe | 2,900 | +81% | |
| 42 | Shopping In Helsinki | 2,900 | 17X | |
| 43 | Fuel Pump Removal Tool | 2,400 | +26% | |
| 44 | Fit Hub | 2,400 | +85% | |
| 45 | Swedish Paper Towels | 2,400 | +307% | |
| 46 | Cs2 Market | 2,400 | +50% | |
| 47 | Tanning Chair | 2,400 | +26% | |
| 48 | People Counter | 2,400 | +50% | |
| 49 | Personal Shopping Services | 1,900 | +90% | |
| 50 | Ai Shopping | 1,900 | +164% |
Showing top 10 of 50 retail trends
| Category | Market Size | Growth | Leaders |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Delivery Services | ~$350B | ~10.3% CAGR | DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart |
| Discount Grocery | ~$180B | ~6.5% CAGR | Aldi, Lidl, Grocery Outlet |
| Self-Checkout Technology | ~$6.5B | ~13.2% CAGR | NCR, Diebold Nixdorf, Toshiba |
| Specialty Ethnic Grocers | ~$45B | ~8.7% CAGR | H Mart, 99 Ranch, Patel Brothers |
| Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) | ~$390B | ~24.3% CAGR | Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay |
| Seasonal Retail Employment | ~700K jobs | ~4.2% YoY | Amazon, Target, UPS |
CAGR = compound annual growth rate
For a breakdown of how we spot these movements before they peak, see our guide on Google Trends for market research where we explain our methodology.
Convenience is king in retail. "Food delivery service" dominates with 368,000 monthly searches, while "grocery delivery services" generates 60,500 searches as consumers embrace on-demand shopping. The search for "asian grocery store near me" shows 246,000 searches reflecting growing demand for specialty and ethnic food options.
What started as a pandemic necessity has become a permanent shift in how consumers shop for food and everyday essentials.
Food and grocery delivery is surging because:
The food delivery market is projected to reach $350 billion globally by 2027, with grocery delivery driving significant growth.
Food Delivery Service (368,000 searches) – The umbrella term for platforms connecting restaurants with hungry consumers. DoorDash leads U.S. market share.
Asian Grocery Store Near Me (246,000 searches) – Indicates growing interest in authentic Asian ingredients. H Mart and 99 Ranch are expanding rapidly.
Grocery Delivery Services (60,500 searches) – Full-service grocery shopping and delivery. Instacart partners with major chains like Costco and Kroger.
Discount Grocery Stores Near Me (18,100 searches) – Budget-conscious shoppers seeking value. Aldi and Lidl continue aggressive expansion.
Consumers are hunting for deals like never before. "Online shopping deals" generates 165,000 monthly searches, "black friday electronics deals" captures 60,500 searches, and "early black friday deals" reaches 40,500 searches as shoppers plan purchases around sales events. "Cheap grocery stores near me" shows 18,100 searches reflecting budget-conscious behavior.
Economic uncertainty has made value-seeking a permanent consumer behavior, not just a seasonal phenomenon.
Discount retail is trending because:
The discount retail sector is growing at 6.5% annually as major chains like Aldi, Lidl, and Dollar General expand footprints.
Online Shopping Deals (165,000 searches) – General deal-hunting behavior that peaks around major shopping events but remains consistent year-round.
Black Friday Electronics Deals (60,500 searches) – Tech products remain the most sought-after Black Friday category. TVs, laptops, and headphones drive traffic.
Early Black Friday Deals (40,500 searches) – Retailers now start deals weeks before Black Friday, creating "Black November."
Taco Tuesday Deals (33,100 searches) – Restaurant promotions drive mid-week traffic. Shows how deal culture extends beyond retail.
Discount Grocery Stores Near Me (18,100 searches) – Budget grocery chains winning share from traditional supermarkets.
Stores are transforming operations. "Self-checkout kiosks" generates 18,100 monthly searches as retailers invest heavily in automation. Meanwhile, consumers are adapting to scan-and-go technology and unmanned store concepts that promise faster, frictionless shopping experiences.
The labor economics of retail are driving rapid adoption of automation technologies.
Self-checkout and retail tech is surging because:
The self-checkout market is projected to reach $6.5 billion by 2028, with 13.2% annual growth.
Self-Checkout Kiosks (18,100 searches) – Standalone terminals that let customers scan, bag, and pay independently. Now standard in most major retailers.
Scan-and-Go Technology – Mobile apps that let shoppers scan items as they shop and skip checkout entirely. Sam's Club and Amazon lead adoption.
Smart Carts – Shopping carts with built-in scanners and screens. Veeve and Instacart's Caper Cart are gaining traction.
Cashierless Stores – Fully automated retail locations using computer vision. Amazon Go pioneered the concept.
Flexible payment is transforming retail. "Pay later" generates 12,100 monthly searches as consumers embrace installment options at checkout. Meanwhile, "inventory management software" captures 14,800 searches and "smart vending machines" shows 6,600 searches as retailers invest in backend technology to improve operations.
The convergence of fintech and retail is creating new expectations around how consumers pay and how stores operate.
Buy Now Pay Later and retail tech is surging because:
The BNPL market is projected to reach $390 billion by 2027, with 24.3% annual growth.
Pay Later (12,100 searches) – The umbrella term for installment payment options. Klarna, Affirm, and Afterpay dominate the space.
Inventory Management Software (14,800 searches) – Systems that track stock levels, orders, and supply chain in real-time. Critical for omnichannel retailers.
Smart Vending Machines (6,600 searches) – AI-powered vending with cashless payment, inventory tracking, and personalized recommendations.
Self-Service Kiosk (8,100 searches) – Interactive terminals for ordering, payments, and customer service across retail environments.
The retail workforce is evolving. "Seasonal jobs" generates 110,000 monthly searches and "seasonal jobs near me" captures 90,500 searches as workers seek flexible, temporary retail positions. The gig economy model is reshaping how stores staff for peak periods.
Retailers are adapting hiring strategies to match modern worker expectations for flexibility.
Seasonal employment is trending because:
Major retailers hire over 700,000 seasonal workers annually for the holiday shopping season.
Seasonal Jobs (110,000 searches) – Temporary positions that spike during peak retail periods. Amazon alone hires 150,000+ seasonal workers.
Seasonal Jobs Near Me (90,500 searches) – Location-based searches indicating active job hunting. Retail, warehouse, and delivery roles dominate.
Flexible Retail Work – Apps like Instawork and Wonolo enable on-demand retail staffing, letting stores scale workforce daily.
Laundromats for Sale (40,500 searches) – Indicates interest in semi-passive retail business ownership as alternative to traditional employment.
Mass retail is giving way to specialized experiences. "Furniture near me" generates 201,000 searches, "fragrance store near me" captures 18,100 searches, and "hearing aids near me" shows 27,100 searches as consumers seek expert retailers for specific product categories.
The future of physical retail belongs to stores offering expertise and experiences that e-commerce cannot replicate.
Niche retail is succeeding because:
Specialty retail is outperforming general merchandise in both traffic and sales growth.
Furniture Near Me (201,000 searches) – Consumers want to see, touch, and test furniture before buying. Local showrooms remain essential.
Lunchbox (201,000 searches) – Specialty products for school, work, and lifestyle needs driving dedicated retail sections.
Fragrance Store Near Me (18,100 searches) – Perfume requires in-person testing. Sephora, Ulta, and specialty boutiques thrive.
Hearing Aids Near Me (27,100 searches) – Healthcare retail requiring professional fitting and consultation.
Phone Store (27,100 searches) – Despite carrier consolidation, local phone stores remain important for device setup and support.
The retail landscape of 2026 reveals an industry in transformation. Whether consumers are ordering food delivery (368K searches), hunting for online shopping deals (165K searches), embracing self-checkout kiosks (18K searches), or choosing buy now pay later (12K searches) – the common thread is a demand for value, convenience, and flexibility.
The winning approaches in retail share these characteristics:
For entrepreneurs and investors, the data points to several high-growth opportunities: food delivery infrastructure, discount retail expansion, retail automation technology, BNPL and fintech solutions, and specialty retail experiences that e-commerce cannot replicate.
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