What: The 2026 Visa report highlights resilient global retail spending, rapid AI adoption, and the increasing importance of cross-border digital payments.

Why it is important: The findings underscore how AI and digital payments are driving operational efficiency and customer engagement, as seen in recent industry reports.

Visa’s 2026 Global Outlook presents a retail landscape defined by resilience and transformation. Despite persistent economic uncertainty and subdued consumer sentiment, global retail spending continues to grow, with notable strength in the US and Asia Pacific markets. Retailers are rapidly embracing generative AI, shifting from generic to domain-specific models, and achieving significant gains in productivity and customer experience. This digital acceleration is complemented by the widespread adoption of new payment solutions, including stablecoins and real-time cross-border transactions, which are enabling retailers to reach new customer segments and streamline operations. Inflation and tariff pressures remain a challenge, prompting innovative pricing strategies and supply chain restructuring, particularly in markets like Korea and the US. The convergence of these trends is fostering a more agile, tech-driven retail sector, where operational efficiency and customer engagement are paramount. As digitalisation and payment innovation continue to reshape the industry, retailers who invest strategically in these areas are best positioned to thrive amid ongoing disruption.

IADS Notes: Visa’s 2026 Global Outlook aligns with recent industry data showing robust consumer spending and digital transformation in retail. In December 2025, The Economist reported that US retail spending remained strong despite low consumer sentiment, with holiday sales projected to surpass $1 trillion. Forbes, in July 2025, highlighted a 0.6% monthly and 3.7% annual growth in June retail sales, underscoring the sector’s resilience. The rapid adoption of generative AI was evident in November 2025, when Forbes noted an 830% year-over-year surge in AI-driven traffic to US retailers, while Retail Touchpoints in January 2026 detailed efficiency gains of 15–30% from domain-specific AI models. Inflation and tariff pressures have prompted innovative responses, such as reverse pricing in Korea, as reported by Inside Retail in June 2025, and widespread supply chain restructuring, as discussed by Bain & Company in May 2025. The adoption of stablecoins and real-time payments, highlighted by BCG’s Global Payments Report in September 2025, is further accelerating cross-border commerce and operational agility. These developments collectively illustrate the sector’s adaptability and the importance of innovation and strategic investment in navigating ongoing disruption.

Visa Business and Economic Insights: 2026 Global Economic Outlook