There are very few negatives in this year’s outlook for the U.S. weight loss market. The largest competitors are back in high-growth mode, unemployment is down, obesity rates are still high, and more DIY dieters seem to be joining structured programs.

The industry appears to be hitting on all cylinders, propelled by a strong overall economy and continued high demand for weight loss programs by a largely overweight population.

Read on for all the latest from Packaged Facts, The Freedonia Group, Simba Information, and Kalorama Information. This week, our analysts tackled hot topics in durable pet products, global water treatment, kindergarten readiness programs, the booming US side gig market, and much more.

The automotive aftermarket — the secondary market for vehicle parts used in repair and maintenance — encompasses everything from brake parts to filters to batteries. Automotive aftermarket companies include General Motors, Bosch, Standard Motor Products, Denso, Federal-Mogul, and CARDONE Industries, among others.

Gig work soared after the Great Recession, as workers were laid off and millennials entered the job market. In addition, new technology – including ride sharing apps and the ability to telecommute and provide freelance services from home – also fueled growth in part-time gigs. In an effort to find life/work balance, millennials and others embraced this more flexible lifestyle.

Check out all tthe latest articles from the experts at The Freedonia Group and Kalorama Information.

Read up on precast concrete products, efforts to address climate change, diagnostics, and more.

The past few years have seen quite a boom in merger and acquisition activity, particularly in the packaging market. For proof of this, look no further than the blockbuster August announcement that Amcor planned to acquire rival packaging firm Bemis in an all-stock transaction valued at nearly US$5.3 billion.

More and more people want to go dairy free — at least some of the time. Consumption of non-dairy plant-based milks has increased by triple digits, according to a report by Packaged Facts titled Dairy and Dairy Alternative Beverage Trends in the U.S., 4th Edition. 

Catch up on the latest articles from Kalorama Information, Simba Information, The Freedonia Group, and Freedonia Focus Reports. 

Analysts covered a diverse range of topics this week, among them bioprocessing, artificial intelligence, investments in education technology, bed and bath retail, and more.

As the global population continues to grow, access to clean water will be more critical than ever, particularly in remote or rural regions lacking the infrastructure or funds to construct large-scale water treatment facilities. As a result, packaged water treatment systems have seen a rise in worldwide popularity.

Once the domain of science fiction novels, robots are poised to transform a broad range of different industry categories in the coming years. Here are just a few key examples — covering the uses of robots today and in the future — based on reports by several market research firms.