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NewsBriefs

inate checks, despite 63 percent experiencing check fraud stocked up on Jan. 23 ahead of snowfall and icy conditions,
in 2024. Other categories also posted gains: internet pay- then largely stayed home through Jan. 26, dampening re-
ments increased 6.1 percent to 11.4 billion, direct deposit tail and restaurant activity. Restaurants were particularly
rose 1.7 percent to 8.7 billion, and P2P payments jumped affected. Overall restaurant sales fell 1.8 percent year over
19.8 percent to 470 million transactions. year, with foot traffic down 3.6 percent.
Deep freeze impacts store traffic in January Limited-service establishments posted a 3.4 percent sales

A prolonged winter deep freeze weighed on small busi- decline. Average ticket sizes rose 1.6 percent, partially off-
ness performance in January 2026, as severe weather cur- setting lower volumes. Discretionary spending declined
tailed store traffic and consumers eased spending follow- 0.4 percent year over year and 0.7 percent month over
ing a strong holiday season. Fiserv's Small Business Index, month.
released Feb. 3, 2026, showed sales rose 0.7 percent year
over year but declined 0.5 percent month over month, re- Retail results were mixed. Core retail categories, includ-
flecting a customary post-holiday slowdown intensified ing groceries, clothing and furniture, rose 1.5 percent year
by extreme weather. over year, while non-core retail, such as gas and building
materials, declined 2.7 percent. Professional and adminis-
In-store transactions bore the brunt of the pullback, with trative services saw pockets of strength, growing 1.1 per-
year-over-year in-store sales falling 2 percent, the steep- cent month over month, aided by storm-related demand.
est decline since mid-2022. Foot traffic slipped 0.8 percent Tax preparation services rose 9.3 percent year over year
month over month. The slowdown followed a robust end and 5.6 percent month over month.
to 2025. Visa reported U.S. consumer spending increased
4.2 percent during a seven-week holiday period beginning The data underscores how weather and shifting consumer
Nov. 1, which aligns with National Retail Federation data. behavior continue to create uneven conditions for small
businesses despite the broader digitization of payments.
However, Winter Storm Fern disrupted late-January activ-
ity. According to a Jan. 28 Fiserv special report, consumers