Halloween 2017 is here, and if predictions are correct, it’s going to be another retail recordbreaker. But, who’s responsible for the sudden uptick in late-October spending? Surveys indicate its adults between the ages of 18 and 36 who have embraced the celebration with incredible gusto, and they appear to be outspending every other demographic as they proceed to make the holiday their own.  Read More...

Predicting the future of small business is difficult, and doing so can frustrate attempts by even the keenest observers. Regardless of the difficulty or imprecision of the process, however, economic forecasts are an important resource for anyone trying to become involved in a market or industry. Knowing that, what predictions has the PYMNTS.com Store Front Business Index made in the past, and how did they look compared to the spring 2017 state of the main street economy?  Read More...

There’s nothing imaginary about the scope of the fantasy sports market, valued at an estimated $7.22 billion in the U.S. and poised for big international growth. In October’s Payments as a Service PYMNTS Tracker™, DraftKings’ chief international officer, Jeffrey Haas, discusses the company’s efforts to improve the global payment experience and the challenges of navigating regulation requirements in different markets. Plus, notable developments across the PaaS space and more than 100 providers in the directory — including five new additions — all in this month’s Tracker.  Read More...