AI, Social Media, and Retail Evolution: Key Trends Driving 2025
$48.39B
Meta's revenue jumped 21% year-over-year to $48.39 billion in Q4, with ad impressions up 6% and the average price per ad rising 14%. More than 4 million advertisers now use Meta's generative AI tools, up from 1 million six months ago. The company plans to invest $60-65 billion in AI infrastructure this year.
3.1%
Deloitte predicts U.S. consumer spending will grow by 3.1% in 2025, with durable goods rising by 4.7%. 7 out of 10 retail executives plan to implement AI tools within the year, while AI chatbots boosted conversion rates by 15% during Black Friday. Nearly half of executives will invest in store remodels and new locations to enhance shopping experiences.
68%
Social Media Ad Spend to Surge in 2025. Nearly 68% of marketers are set to raise their social media ad budgets, with 67% planning to invest more in digital display and video, according to Mediaocean's latest report. 55% also aim to increase spending on CTV ads. Almost two-thirds see generative AI as the leading trend, up by 8% since July.
34000
Retail job cuts surged 96% month over month to 6,419 in January, up 20% from last year. Despite this, retail trade employment rose by 34,000 jobs, while electronics and appliance retailers lost 7,000 positions. Overall, U.S. employers announced 49,795 job cuts in January, marking a 28% increase from December.
1.5B
Mobile app revenue hit $150 billion in 2024, up 12.5% YoY, with gaming leading at $80.9 billion. AI app downloads reached 1.5 billion, generating $1.27 billion in revenue, up from just $9 million in 2021. Social media users spent 3 trillion hours on apps, a 6% rise, while global app downloads fell 1% to 136 billion.
71%
Reddit's revenue surged 71% YoY to $428 million in Q4 2024, driven by ad business growth. Daily active users reached 101.7 million, but all growth came from outside the U.S., where it lost users. The platform plans to expand international ad sales in 2025 to maximize opportunities. New analytics tools like “Reddit Pro” helped brands create 12% more content, boosting advertiser interest.
500
Joann is set to close approximately 500 out of its 850 stores nationwide after filing for bankruptcy for the second time. Court documents reveal 533 closures planned across 49 states, with nearly 200 in Great Lakes states and 61 in California. Florida and California will see the most closures, but Southern California alone accounts for over 20 in the Los Angeles area.