Consumer & Retail Industry Update

Q1 2026

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GCG’s Q1 2026 Consumer & Retail Industry Update provides an overview of the latest trends in the sector, including recent performance, valuation multiples, and the state of the middle-market M&A environment.

Key findings include the following:

  • Consumer behavior in Q1 2026 showed a market narrowing its focus, with capital and attention flowing toward brands and platforms with demand resilience, repeat purchase behavior, and long-term category relevance.
  • M&A activity accelerated in Q1 2026, with 81 announced transactions (vs. 68 in Q4), led by strategic buyers (83%) and supported by consolidation and portfolio precision.
  • Consumer & Retail public equities closed Q1 2026 with underperformance versus broad market indices, as most subsectors trailed amid normalizing demand and promotional pressure.

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