A market trend is a general direction in which an asset’s price is moving. Market trends are shaped by sentiment among traders and investors and may be influenced by macroeconomic factors such as monetary policy. They also shape consumer demand and influence the way marketers position products in their portfolio.
Identifying market trends requires reliable data from a variety of sources. Gathering this information can be challenging, but digital tools such as customer relationship management (CRM) and financial management software can make it easier to obtain pertinent data. Once you have the right data in place, you can perform either time-series or regression analysis to identify market trends.
Time-series analysis looks at changes in a specific data set over time, while regression analysis looks for correlation between a number and another variable. Both of these methods are useful in identifying market trends, but the one you choose depends on your objectives and scope of the project.
To gain insight into how market trends impact product sales, ecommerce companies may use regression analysis to measure the effect of pricing adjustments and marketing campaigns on sales metrics such as revenue growth. To understand the bigger picture, they may also look at time-series data to see how trends over time are impacting overall customer behavior and shifting consumer expectations. For example, our 2025 US Consumer Trends Report showed that for many consumers, focusing on the economy and jobs takes priority over concerns about climate change. Understanding this shift in focus can help shape smarter messaging and product development for brands that cater to environmentally conscious consumers.