BALTIMORE, MD, May 13, 2025 – As communities across the United States continue to confront the devastating toll of mass shootings, new research reveals a staggering economic dimension to these tragedies. A study published in the INFORMS journal Marketing Science finds that mass shootings cause an estimated $27 billion in annual lost revenue for U.S. retailers driven by sharp declines in foot traffic, reduced transaction volume and long-term store closures.
BALTIMORE, MD, May 13, 2025 – Researchers who took a close look at loosened concealed carry laws between 2010 and 2017 have found that “Shall Issue” regulations, which remove local authority discretion on the issuance of concealed carry gun permits, contribute to a significant increase in handgun purchases. At the same time, the researchers found that in states that adopted “Permitless Carry” policies, there was no noticeable change in gun purchases.
With sweeping new tariffs on Chinese-made products set to take effect this summer, Americans are being urged to prepare for price hikes on everyday goods. President Donald Trump's reinstated trade policies are expected to affect a wide swath of consumer imports, including electronics, furniture, appliances, and baby gear. Retail experts are advising shoppers to act before the tariffs hit and prices rise.
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Once again, a deadly outbreak of the Ebola virus disease is spreading throughout parts of Africa, mostly in the northern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Applebee's, Olive Garden, Outback Steakhouse, and Chili's have all introduced tablets across their stores, while others, notably TGI Fridays and Chuck E. Cheese, have employed tablet tech for servers to directly send customer orders to the kitchen. BJ's Restaurants is testing pre-ordering via an app for its dine-in service at several of its stores this year.
Like Kenny Rogers' gambler, who has to "know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em," banks face financial risks and uncertainty when deciding when to chase consumers who default on their credit card payments and when to let them go.
As cannabis becomes legalized in more states across the U.S., many researchers are trying to measure the outcome of the new laws and cultural practices. In a study upcoming in the INFORMS journal Marketing Science, a team of researchers used internet search data to evaluate the effect of marijuana legalization on both adults and youth. "Asymmetric Effects of Recreational Cannabis Legalization” found that the new laws on cannabis affected searches for alcohol and tobacco differently, and that young people had different search patterns than adults.
New research among INFORMS members is saving hospitals big bucks. In the last year, a new module to predict and prevent seizures in brain injury patients saved more than $7 million and doubled the number of patients being treated.
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