Pokemon

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? 1 for the road: Poké-mania

Pokémon cards in a scrapbook. Photo: Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images Pokémon packs and sports cards aren't just for kids and collectors anymore — they're fueling a retail boom, Axios' Kelly Tyko writes. Why it matters: Trading cards are billion-dollar businesses for mass retailers like Target. ? The big picture: Some 1 in 5 adults reported buying Pokémon cards for themselves, though only a quarter actually play the game — most are collecting or investing, per Circana. It's like the bobblehead boom or the recent Labubu toy craze. Zoom in: Walmart saw trading card sales soar 200% between February 2024 and June 2025, the world's largest retailer told Axios. Target officials said Wednesday that trading card sales are up nearly 70% this year and on track to surpass $1 billion in 2025. eBay officials said in July that trading card sales have now surged for 10 straight quarters.