What do retailers primarily do?

Retailers primarily buy goods from wholesalers or manufacturers and then resell those products directly to consumers. This function is fundamental to the retail industry, as it connects producers with end-users, allowing consumers to access a wide variety of products without needing to navigate the complexities of purchasing directly from manufacturers.

Manufacturing goods for resale is typically the domain of manufacturers or producers, who focus on creating the products that retailers later sell. While transportation services are vital for the logistics involved in getting products from sellers to retailers, this activity is not the primary role of retailers themselves. Lastly, analyzing market trends for financial forecasting is more closely associated with market analysts or financial planners, rather than the core functions of retailers, who focus primarily on the sales aspect of the business. Thus, the correct answer reflects the main activity retailers engage in within the economy.