Affiliate Roundup: Consumers Paying More, eCommerce to Hit 30% of Retail Sales by 2040, Revolve Sued for $50 Million

This week in FMTC’s Affiliate Roundup: A UserTesting survey found that most consumers are willing to pay more for their favorite brands due to positive experiences and loyalty. Revolve and influencers are being sued for $50 million for failing to disclose paid endorsements. Forrester predicts eCommerce will account for 30% of global retail sales by 2040, reshaping the economy through digital technology and AI.

• Google has reversed its plan to eliminate third-party cookies in Chrome, opting instead to maintain them and introduce a user-controlled privacy prompt, amid regulatory scrutiny and industry pushback.

• Podcasting is an overlooked yet powerful opportunity for affiliate marketers to reach highly engaged audiences amid rising digital ad spending.

• A UserTesting survey found that most consumers are willing to pay significantly more for their favorite brands, citing positive customer experiences and long-term loyalty as key drivers.

• Revolve and influencers are being sued for $50 million over alleged failure to disclose paid endorsements.

• A potential breakup of Google’s ad tech business could boost competition and transparency but may also disrupt the digital ad ecosystem and negatively impact publishers and small businesses.

• Shein and Temu will raise prices due to new U.S. tariffs and changes to import rules.

• Forrester forecasts that by 2040, eCommerce will account for 30% of global retail sales, driven by digital technology, evolving consumer behaviors, and artificial intelligence, fundamentally reshaping the global economy.