--- title: "Weekly Wrap-Up: August 17, 2018" description: Catch up on the latest blog posts from leading market research firms. image: https://blog.marketresearch.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/WeeklyWrapUp-131269-edited.png --- [![MarketResearch.com](https://blog.marketresearch.com/hs-fs/hub/209482/file-22777923.gif?width=295&height=66&name=file-22777923.gif "MarketResearch.com")](https://www.marketresearch.com/) [Market Research Blog](https://blog.marketresearch.com/) # Weekly Wrap-Up: August 17, 2018 by [Sarah Schmidt](https://blog.marketresearch.com/author/sarah-schmidt), on August 17, 2018 ![market research articles](https://blog.marketresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/WeeklyWrapUp-131269-edited.png?width=300&name=WeeklyWrapUp-131269-edited.png)Catch up on the latest blog posts from leading market research firms. This week, analysts discussed the markets for wild bird food, vaccines, gas, steel & aluminum fabricators, mattresses, plastics, outdoor living, dating services, and more. ### [Wild Birds Aren’t Picky Eaters](https://www.packagedfacts.com/Content/Blog/2018/08/15/Wild-Birds-Aren%E2%80%99t-Picky-Eaters) Bird feeding tends to appeal to older Americans as a retirement pastime, but the hobby is slowly becoming more popular with younger generations as well. ### [$32 Billion-Dollar Market for Vaccines](https://www.kaloramainformation.com/Content/Blog/2018/08/09/32-Billion-Dollar-Market-for-Vaccines) Although the market for vaccines experienced robust growth in 2017, a challenge remains: 12% of people around the world believe that vaccines are not safe. ### [Feeling Pain at the Pump? Blame Global Politics](https://www.freedoniafocusreports.com/Content/Blog/2018/08/13/Feeling-Pain-at-the-Pump-Blame-Global-Politics) Gas prices are expected to rise as political turmoil in oil-producing nations such as Venezuela and Iran reduce global supply. ### [Lower Standards for Gas May Get a Pass](https://www.freedoniafocusreports.com/Content/Blog/2018/08/13/Lower-Standards-for-Gas-May-Get-a-Pass) The Trump Administration is working to freeze fuel economy standards at 2020 levels, but automakers will likely continue to manufacture cars to meet the old Obama-era policy standards ### [Steel & Aluminum Fabricators Under Pressure… to Grow?!](https://www.freedoniafocusreports.com/Content/Blog/2018/08/15/Steel--Aluminum-Fabricators-Under-Pressure%E2%80%A6-to-Grow) Due to tariffs on imported metals, fabricators are forced to purchase higher-priced US steel. These higher costs place a particular burden on small firms, which may not be able to survive. ### [Mattress Retailers Are Losing Sleep](https://www.freedoniafocusreports.com/Content/Blog/2018/08/15/Mattress-Retailers-Are-Losing-Sleep) The mattress industry is undergoing rapid change. Mattress Firm is shuttering stores across the country, while Casper — a popular bed-in-a-box company — plans to open 200 stores this year. ### [Tariff Tracker: New Taxes Target Plastics](https://www.freedoniagroup.com/Content/Blog/2018/08/13/Tariff-Tracker-New-Taxes-Target-Plastics-) How will a new 25% tariff on imports of key plastics from China affect the US market? ### [This Summer’s 3 Fastest Growing Outdoor Room Elements](https://www.freedoniagroup.com/Content/Blog/2018/08/13/This-Summer%E2%80%99s-3-Fastest-Growing-Outdoor-Room-Elements) Summer of 2018 is winding down, but these three outdoor room elements are set to keep rising through 2022. ### [Tariff Tracker: China Hits Out at US Polyethylene Manufacturers](https://www.freedoniagroup.com/Content/Blog/2018/08/10/Tariff-Tracker--China-Hits-Out-at-US-Polyethylene-Manufacturers) Retaliatory tariffs from China on a range of commodity chemicals and polymers are set to sting US producers. ### [Tariff Tracker: RV Industry Faces a Steel and Aluminum Fork in the Road](https://www.freedoniagroup.com/Content/Blog/2018/08/15/Tariff-Tracker-RV-Industry-Faces-a-Steel-and-Aluminum-Fork-in-the-Road) Can the ongoing recovery of the recreational vehicle market withstand the Trump administration’s new steel and aluminum tariffs? ### [Walmart’s Competitive Advantage: 3 Key Success Factors](https://blog.marketresearch.com/walmarts-competitive-advantage-3-key-success-factors) Walmart is famous for its ability to deliver “products that are so darn cheap you can’t believe it.” But there’s more to Walmart’s business strategy than low prices. ### [American Singles Fuel the $2.5 Billion Dating Market](https://blog.marketresearch.com/american-singles-fuel-the-2.5-billion-dating-market) Matchmaking and online dating has become a big, growing business, with dating services forecast to grow 5.1% per year to $3.2 billion by 2020. 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