The Green Sheet Online Edition
November 24, 2025 • 25:11:02
News Briefs
Shifting marketing, payment patterns this holiday season <- click to read full story
Shifting behaviors are reshaping how shoppers discover and pay for products. Constant Contact's Small Business Holiday Outlook revealed that many businesses are intensifying marketing, with U.S. companies quadrupling their launch of new holiday campaigns since last year and 40 percent ranking social media as their most impactful channel.
Loyalty to small businesses remains strong, according to The Strawhecker Group and the ETA, though payment preferences vary significantly by geography. Urban consumers use digital wallets, P2P apps and QR codes far more than suburban or rural shoppers. In addition, PayPal's new survey found that 77 percent of respondents plan to use AI tools for deal-hunting and gift discovery.
Court backs Fed's refusal to let fintech access payment rails <- click to read full story
A federal appeals court affirmed the Federal Reserve's authority to deny master account access to fintechs, dealing a setback to Custodia Bank, a Wyoming-chartered crypto-focused institution seeking direct access to Fed payment rails. The Tenth Circuit upheld a lower court ruling that Reserve Banks possess discretion in granting master accounts; allowing entities with elevated risk profiles could undermine financial system stability. Banking groups praised the decision for reinforcing regulatory safeguards.
Custodia argued that eligibility should guarantee access, but courts disagreed, finding no statutory mandate requiring Reserve Banks to approve applications. However, the debate is not settled. Fed Governor Christopher Waller suggested exploring "skinny" master accounts tailored for fintechs, with capped balances and limited services, to support innovation while mitigating risk.
Holiday sales predicted to set record <- click to read full story
The National Retail Federation is projecting retail sales will surpass $1 trillion for the first time, driven by resilient consumer spending despite inflation and trade uncertainty. The NRF expects growth between 3.7 and 4.2 percent over last year, supported by strong employment and wages. Americans in the study plan to spend an average of $890.49 on gifts, food and seasonal items, with gift budgets particularly rising among families with children. With nearly all U.S. adults intending to celebrate winter holidays, online shopping remains dominant, but grocery, department and discount stores also rank high.
Gift cards top wish lists, followed by clothing, books, personal care goods and electronics. Retailers face consumers who are simultaneously price-conscious and determined to indulge loved ones, balancing economic caution with the enduring tradition of holiday generosity.
Digital wallet users to dominate by 2030 <- click to read full story
Juniper Research predicted digital wallet usage will grow from 4.4 billion users today to exceed 6 billion global users by 2030. Adoption is accelerating due to convenience, flexible funding and rapid innovation. Providers must differentiate through value-added services rather than basic functionality, incorporating BNPL features, virtual cards, identity credentials and rewards. Wallets must support diverse models—from stored-value and staged wallets to crypto-based options—while enabling card and account-to-account payments.
Loyalty incentives, gamification and super-app capabilities will be crucial in markets where digital payments are mature, while emerging economies offer growth through financial inclusion. Interoperability and cross-border usability are becoming competitive necessities as consumers expect seamless global functionality. Platforms that fail to evolve risk losing ground to traditional financial institutions integrating wallet-like services into their ecosystems.
Cash making a comeback this holiday season <- click to read full story
PwC reported a surprising shift in the 2025 holiday season: cash is regaining prominence at checkout, with 48 percent of consumers planning to use it—up seven points from 2025. Gift cards nearly doubled in popularity as both a payment method and gift choice. Yet credit and debit cards remain dominant, with more than half of consumers ranking credit cards among their top three payment methods. Fulfillment preferences are diversifying, with strong interest in home delivery, buy-online-pick-up-in-store and same-day delivery, particularly among younger shoppers.
A compressed holiday calendar—running from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1—intensifies spending, with most budgets expected to be used by Cyber Monday. Food spending and food-related gifts are surging as families prioritize gatherings and consumable gifts, reflecting a desire for comfort, tradition and value-focused indulgence. 
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