AlixPartners just released the 2026 Consumer Sentiment Index, which polls more than 9,000 consumers and reveals a retail and apparel landscape undergoing massive change—from the role of physical stores and the use of AI to social commerce and the prioritization of value.
One eye-opening finding from the report is that, no pun intended, GLP-1 drugs are reshaping fashion apparel. About 11 percent of the U.S. consumers are using GLP-1 medications for diabetes and/or weight loss. These include Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, among others. And that use is impacting inventory management, product development, merchandise planning and returns as well as the resale, alterations and apparel rental segment.
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“Among activewear shoppers, the importance of inclusive product options declined from 55 percent in 2024 to 37 percent in 2026,” the report’s authors said. “Meanwhile, the importance of consistent fit and sizing rose from 29 percent in 2025 to 54 percent in 2026. Interest in services such as alterations also increased 29 percent versus last year.”
” At H&M’s plus-size assortment dropped 5 percent compared to the two years prior, while Asos’s offerings declined a whopping 32 percent and Reformation a stunning 60 percent. However, Anthropologie had increased its plus-size inventory.
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