Retail Leader’s Chief Retail Analyst Elizabeth Lafontaine dives into the trends that emerged throughout the third quarter. Both consumers and the broader retail industry faced obstacles in the back half of the year including soaring debt levels, increased retail crime, M&A activity and consumer focus on value. The third quarter also represents a shift for the retail industry in many ways: the highly promotional back-to-school season comes to a close and retailers and consumers look ahead to the holidays and gifting.