{
  "_meta": {
    "study": "Cashback Rates by Category 2026 (REVENUE-BOARD #21)",
    "snapshot_date": "2026-07-18",
    "pull_utc": "2026-07-18T03:11:48Z",
    "source": "prod tenmomo_sync — commission_structures JOIN advertisers (read-only, one-time pull)",
    "generator": "ops/digital-pr/build-category-rates.mjs",
    "mapping": "ops/digital-pr/data/category-mapping.json",
    "methodology": {
      "primary_rate_type": "percent",
      "positive_rates_only": true,
      "zero_rate_percent_excluded": 2548,
      "cpc_cpm_excluded": 0,
      "impact_excluded_no_category_rows": 2,
      "min_cell_n": 30,
      "percentile_method": "linear interpolation (type 7 / numpy default)",
      "networks_with_category": [
        "awin",
        "cj",
        "rakuten"
      ],
      "null_or_unmapped_folded_to_other": 7,
      "note": "A percent rate is unitless (% of order) and therefore comparable across networks and currencies. These are the commission rates advertisers pay affiliate programs — NOT consumer cashback rates."
    },
    "totals": {
      "commission_rows_pulled": 13939,
      "percent_rows_all": 12842,
      "percent_rows_positive_analyzed": 10294,
      "percent_rows_in_published_categories": 10250,
      "fixed_rows": 1097,
      "programs_all_networks": 3529,
      "programs_in_percent_analysis": 3349
    },
    "advertiser_status_split": {
      "awin": {
        "total": 2660,
        "active": 2456
      },
      "rakuten": {
        "total": 122,
        "active": 119
      },
      "impact": {
        "total": 1,
        "active": 1
      },
      "cj": {
        "total": 746,
        "active": 688
      }
    },
    "robustness_active_only": {
      "note": "Category ordering recomputed on active advertisers only (guards against inactive/stale programs skewing the ranking, esp. Rakuten).",
      "top3_stable": true,
      "bottom2_stable": true,
      "active_order": [
        "Software & Online Services",
        "Financial Services",
        "Books & Education",
        "Business & B2B",
        "Electronics & Computing",
        "Health & Beauty",
        "Pets",
        "Groceries & Everyday (FMCG)",
        "Gifts & Flowers",
        "Entertainment & Media",
        "Department Stores & Marketplaces",
        "Fashion & Apparel",
        "Home & Garden",
        "Baby & Kids",
        "Sports & Outdoors",
        "Automotive",
        "Travel"
      ]
    }
  },
  "overall_percent": {
    "n": 10250,
    "mean": 8.43,
    "median": 5,
    "p25": 3,
    "p75": 10,
    "min": 0.05,
    "max": 125,
    "n_programs": 3313
  },
  "categories": [
    {
      "category": "Software & Online Services",
      "n_programs": 76,
      "n_rates": 214,
      "mean": 28.28,
      "median": 25,
      "p25": 15,
      "p75": 38.75,
      "min": 2,
      "max": 100,
      "mean_by_program": 26.2,
      "median_by_program": 20,
      "by_network": {
        "awin": {
          "n": 75,
          "mean": 21.81,
          "median": 20,
          "published": true
        },
        "cj": {
          "n": 137,
          "mean": 31.43,
          "median": 25,
          "published": true
        },
        "rakuten": {
          "n": 2,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "category": "Financial Services",
      "n_programs": 21,
      "n_rates": 34,
      "mean": 25.1,
      "median": 20,
      "p25": 10,
      "p75": 46.75,
      "min": 0.5,
      "max": 50,
      "mean_by_program": 21.88,
      "median_by_program": 20,
      "by_network": {
        "awin": {
          "n": 25,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        },
        "cj": {
          "n": 9,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        },
        "rakuten": {
          "n": 0,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "category": "Books & Education",
      "n_programs": 83,
      "n_rates": 164,
      "mean": 13.51,
      "median": 9,
      "p25": 8,
      "p75": 20,
      "min": 1,
      "max": 50,
      "mean_by_program": 16.97,
      "median_by_program": 12.22,
      "by_network": {
        "awin": {
          "n": 96,
          "mean": 16.29,
          "median": 15,
          "published": true
        },
        "cj": {
          "n": 67,
          "mean": 9.66,
          "median": 8,
          "published": true
        },
        "rakuten": {
          "n": 1,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "category": "Business & B2B",
      "n_programs": 117,
      "n_rates": 255,
      "mean": 10.08,
      "median": 5,
      "p25": 2,
      "p75": 15,
      "min": 0.5,
      "max": 50,
      "mean_by_program": 13.35,
      "median_by_program": 10,
      "by_network": {
        "awin": {
          "n": 116,
          "mean": 15.45,
          "median": 10,
          "published": true
        },
        "cj": {
          "n": 137,
          "mean": 5.26,
          "median": 2,
          "published": true
        },
        "rakuten": {
          "n": 2,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "category": "Health & Beauty",
      "n_programs": 621,
      "n_rates": 1091,
      "mean": 11.41,
      "median": 10,
      "p25": 5,
      "p75": 15,
      "min": 0.1,
      "max": 72,
      "mean_by_program": 12.62,
      "median_by_program": 10,
      "by_network": {
        "awin": {
          "n": 799,
          "mean": 12.83,
          "median": 10,
          "published": true
        },
        "cj": {
          "n": 269,
          "mean": 7.64,
          "median": 8,
          "published": true
        },
        "rakuten": {
          "n": 23,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "category": "Electronics & Computing",
      "n_programs": 334,
      "n_rates": 951,
      "mean": 10.88,
      "median": 6,
      "p25": 5,
      "p75": 10,
      "min": 0.75,
      "max": 125,
      "mean_by_program": 12.62,
      "median_by_program": 9.33,
      "by_network": {
        "awin": {
          "n": 469,
          "mean": 10.87,
          "median": 8,
          "published": true
        },
        "cj": {
          "n": 478,
          "mean": 10.93,
          "median": 5,
          "published": true
        },
        "rakuten": {
          "n": 4,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "category": "Pets",
      "n_programs": 42,
      "n_rates": 62,
      "mean": 10.77,
      "median": 10,
      "p25": 5.5,
      "p75": 15,
      "min": 2,
      "max": 40,
      "mean_by_program": 11.85,
      "median_by_program": 10,
      "by_network": {
        "awin": {
          "n": 62,
          "mean": 10.77,
          "median": 10,
          "published": true
        },
        "cj": {
          "n": 0,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        },
        "rakuten": {
          "n": 0,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "category": "Groceries & Everyday (FMCG)",
      "n_programs": 127,
      "n_rates": 212,
      "mean": 12.18,
      "median": 10,
      "p25": 5,
      "p75": 15,
      "min": 0.05,
      "max": 50,
      "mean_by_program": 10.97,
      "median_by_program": 10,
      "by_network": {
        "awin": {
          "n": 166,
          "mean": 13.74,
          "median": 10,
          "published": true
        },
        "cj": {
          "n": 44,
          "mean": 6.66,
          "median": 5,
          "published": true
        },
        "rakuten": {
          "n": 2,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "category": "Department Stores & Marketplaces",
      "n_programs": 34,
      "n_rates": 268,
      "mean": 27.65,
      "median": 19,
      "p25": 5,
      "p75": 42,
      "min": 0.5,
      "max": 99,
      "mean_by_program": 10.6,
      "median_by_program": 5.8,
      "by_network": {
        "awin": {
          "n": 31,
          "mean": 12.37,
          "median": 10,
          "published": true
        },
        "cj": {
          "n": 229,
          "mean": 30.6,
          "median": 24,
          "published": true
        },
        "rakuten": {
          "n": 8,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "category": "Gifts & Flowers",
      "n_programs": 121,
      "n_rates": 250,
      "mean": 10.13,
      "median": 10,
      "p25": 6,
      "p75": 12,
      "min": 1,
      "max": 50,
      "mean_by_program": 10.58,
      "median_by_program": 10,
      "by_network": {
        "awin": {
          "n": 167,
          "mean": 10.83,
          "median": 10,
          "published": true
        },
        "cj": {
          "n": 36,
          "mean": 7.94,
          "median": 5,
          "published": true
        },
        "rakuten": {
          "n": 47,
          "mean": 9.32,
          "median": 10,
          "published": true
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "category": "Entertainment & Media",
      "n_programs": 148,
      "n_rates": 351,
      "mean": 8.06,
      "median": 5,
      "p25": 3,
      "p75": 10,
      "min": 0.5,
      "max": 100,
      "mean_by_program": 10.57,
      "median_by_program": 8,
      "by_network": {
        "awin": {
          "n": 238,
          "mean": 7.84,
          "median": 5,
          "published": true
        },
        "cj": {
          "n": 99,
          "mean": 7.72,
          "median": 4,
          "published": true
        },
        "rakuten": {
          "n": 14,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "category": "Fashion & Apparel",
      "n_programs": 624,
      "n_rates": 4439,
      "mean": 4.88,
      "median": 4,
      "p25": 2,
      "p75": 6,
      "min": 0.15,
      "max": 100,
      "mean_by_program": 9.52,
      "median_by_program": 9,
      "by_network": {
        "awin": {
          "n": 650,
          "mean": 10.49,
          "median": 10,
          "published": true
        },
        "cj": {
          "n": 3726,
          "mean": 3.8,
          "median": 3,
          "published": true
        },
        "rakuten": {
          "n": 63,
          "mean": 11.17,
          "median": 5,
          "published": true
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "category": "Home & Garden",
      "n_programs": 519,
      "n_rates": 875,
      "mean": 8.72,
      "median": 8,
      "p25": 5,
      "p75": 10,
      "min": 0.1,
      "max": 50,
      "mean_by_program": 9.22,
      "median_by_program": 9.33,
      "by_network": {
        "awin": {
          "n": 650,
          "mean": 9.7,
          "median": 10,
          "published": true
        },
        "cj": {
          "n": 211,
          "mean": 5.98,
          "median": 5,
          "published": true
        },
        "rakuten": {
          "n": 14,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "category": "Baby & Kids",
      "n_programs": 39,
      "n_rates": 66,
      "mean": 8.93,
      "median": 8,
      "p25": 6,
      "p75": 10,
      "min": 1,
      "max": 25,
      "mean_by_program": 8.94,
      "median_by_program": 8,
      "by_network": {
        "awin": {
          "n": 37,
          "mean": 10.62,
          "median": 10,
          "published": true
        },
        "cj": {
          "n": 23,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        },
        "rakuten": {
          "n": 6,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "category": "Sports & Outdoors",
      "n_programs": 150,
      "n_rates": 229,
      "mean": 8.02,
      "median": 6,
      "p25": 5,
      "p75": 10,
      "min": 0.5,
      "max": 80,
      "mean_by_program": 8.36,
      "median_by_program": 7,
      "by_network": {
        "awin": {
          "n": 153,
          "mean": 8.44,
          "median": 8,
          "published": true
        },
        "cj": {
          "n": 68,
          "mean": 6.35,
          "median": 5,
          "published": true
        },
        "rakuten": {
          "n": 8,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "category": "Automotive",
      "n_programs": 95,
      "n_rates": 136,
      "mean": 7.87,
      "median": 7,
      "p25": 5,
      "p75": 10,
      "min": 0.5,
      "max": 50,
      "mean_by_program": 8.18,
      "median_by_program": 8,
      "by_network": {
        "awin": {
          "n": 79,
          "mean": 8.77,
          "median": 10,
          "published": true
        },
        "cj": {
          "n": 47,
          "mean": 7.1,
          "median": 5,
          "published": true
        },
        "rakuten": {
          "n": 10,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "category": "Travel",
      "n_programs": 162,
      "n_rates": 653,
      "mean": 4.82,
      "median": 4,
      "p25": 2,
      "p75": 6,
      "min": 0.75,
      "max": 55,
      "mean_by_program": 6.27,
      "median_by_program": 4.33,
      "by_network": {
        "awin": {
          "n": 259,
          "mean": 7.3,
          "median": 6,
          "published": true
        },
        "cj": {
          "n": 389,
          "mean": 3.13,
          "median": 2,
          "published": true
        },
        "rakuten": {
          "n": 5,
          "mean": null,
          "median": null,
          "published": false
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  "other_residual": {
    "n_rates": 44,
    "n_programs": 36,
    "mean": 15.36,
    "median": 10
  },
  "network_comparison": [
    {
      "category": "Business & B2B",
      "awin": {
        "n": 116,
        "mean": 15.45,
        "median": 10
      },
      "cj": {
        "n": 137,
        "mean": 5.26,
        "median": 2
      },
      "rakuten": {
        "n": 2,
        "mean": null,
        "median": null
      },
      "spread_ratio": 2.94
    },
    {
      "category": "Fashion & Apparel",
      "awin": {
        "n": 650,
        "mean": 10.49,
        "median": 10
      },
      "cj": {
        "n": 3726,
        "mean": 3.8,
        "median": 3
      },
      "rakuten": {
        "n": 63,
        "mean": 11.17,
        "median": 5
      },
      "spread_ratio": 2.94
    },
    {
      "category": "Department Stores & Marketplaces",
      "awin": {
        "n": 31,
        "mean": 12.37,
        "median": 10
      },
      "cj": {
        "n": 229,
        "mean": 30.6,
        "median": 24
      },
      "rakuten": {
        "n": 8,
        "mean": null,
        "median": null
      },
      "spread_ratio": 2.47
    },
    {
      "category": "Travel",
      "awin": {
        "n": 259,
        "mean": 7.3,
        "median": 6
      },
      "cj": {
        "n": 389,
        "mean": 3.13,
        "median": 2
      },
      "rakuten": {
        "n": 5,
        "mean": null,
        "median": null
      },
      "spread_ratio": 2.33
    },
    {
      "category": "Groceries & Everyday (FMCG)",
      "awin": {
        "n": 166,
        "mean": 13.74,
        "median": 10
      },
      "cj": {
        "n": 44,
        "mean": 6.66,
        "median": 5
      },
      "rakuten": {
        "n": 2,
        "mean": null,
        "median": null
      },
      "spread_ratio": 2.06
    },
    {
      "category": "Books & Education",
      "awin": {
        "n": 96,
        "mean": 16.29,
        "median": 15
      },
      "cj": {
        "n": 67,
        "mean": 9.66,
        "median": 8
      },
      "rakuten": {
        "n": 1,
        "mean": null,
        "median": null
      },
      "spread_ratio": 1.69
    },
    {
      "category": "Health & Beauty",
      "awin": {
        "n": 799,
        "mean": 12.83,
        "median": 10
      },
      "cj": {
        "n": 269,
        "mean": 7.64,
        "median": 8
      },
      "rakuten": {
        "n": 23,
        "mean": null,
        "median": null
      },
      "spread_ratio": 1.68
    },
    {
      "category": "Home & Garden",
      "awin": {
        "n": 650,
        "mean": 9.7,
        "median": 10
      },
      "cj": {
        "n": 211,
        "mean": 5.98,
        "median": 5
      },
      "rakuten": {
        "n": 14,
        "mean": null,
        "median": null
      },
      "spread_ratio": 1.62
    },
    {
      "category": "Software & Online Services",
      "awin": {
        "n": 75,
        "mean": 21.81,
        "median": 20
      },
      "cj": {
        "n": 137,
        "mean": 31.43,
        "median": 25
      },
      "rakuten": {
        "n": 2,
        "mean": null,
        "median": null
      },
      "spread_ratio": 1.44
    },
    {
      "category": "Gifts & Flowers",
      "awin": {
        "n": 167,
        "mean": 10.83,
        "median": 10
      },
      "cj": {
        "n": 36,
        "mean": 7.94,
        "median": 5
      },
      "rakuten": {
        "n": 47,
        "mean": 9.32,
        "median": 10
      },
      "spread_ratio": 1.36
    },
    {
      "category": "Sports & Outdoors",
      "awin": {
        "n": 153,
        "mean": 8.44,
        "median": 8
      },
      "cj": {
        "n": 68,
        "mean": 6.35,
        "median": 5
      },
      "rakuten": {
        "n": 8,
        "mean": null,
        "median": null
      },
      "spread_ratio": 1.33
    },
    {
      "category": "Automotive",
      "awin": {
        "n": 79,
        "mean": 8.77,
        "median": 10
      },
      "cj": {
        "n": 47,
        "mean": 7.1,
        "median": 5
      },
      "rakuten": {
        "n": 10,
        "mean": null,
        "median": null
      },
      "spread_ratio": 1.24
    },
    {
      "category": "Entertainment & Media",
      "awin": {
        "n": 238,
        "mean": 7.84,
        "median": 5
      },
      "cj": {
        "n": 99,
        "mean": 7.72,
        "median": 4
      },
      "rakuten": {
        "n": 14,
        "mean": null,
        "median": null
      },
      "spread_ratio": 1.02
    },
    {
      "category": "Electronics & Computing",
      "awin": {
        "n": 469,
        "mean": 10.87,
        "median": 8
      },
      "cj": {
        "n": 478,
        "mean": 10.93,
        "median": 5
      },
      "rakuten": {
        "n": 4,
        "mean": null,
        "median": null
      },
      "spread_ratio": 1.01
    }
  ],
  "fixed": {
    "currency_note": "Fixed-amount bounties in each program's native currency (predominantly USD). No cross-currency normalization in v1 — indicative only.",
    "overall": {
      "n": 791,
      "mean": 23.87,
      "median": 7,
      "p25": 6,
      "p75": 20,
      "min": 0.01,
      "max": 1000
    },
    "by_category": [
      {
        "category": "Books & Education",
        "n_rates": 38,
        "mean": 48.82,
        "median": 38.5,
        "p25": 20,
        "p75": 80
      },
      {
        "category": "Electronics & Computing",
        "n_rates": 56,
        "mean": 40.29,
        "median": 32.5,
        "p25": 5,
        "p75": 60
      },
      {
        "category": "Software & Online Services",
        "n_rates": 89,
        "mean": 42.18,
        "median": 20,
        "p25": 5,
        "p75": 59.97
      },
      {
        "category": "Financial Services",
        "n_rates": 35,
        "mean": 26.86,
        "median": 10,
        "p25": 5,
        "p75": 49
      },
      {
        "category": "Health & Beauty",
        "n_rates": 40,
        "mean": 20.7,
        "median": 10,
        "p25": 4.75,
        "p75": 32.5
      },
      {
        "category": "Travel",
        "n_rates": 61,
        "mean": 19.23,
        "median": 8,
        "p25": 5,
        "p75": 20
      },
      {
        "category": "Business & B2B",
        "n_rates": 278,
        "mean": 12,
        "median": 7,
        "p25": 7,
        "p75": 7
      },
      {
        "category": "Entertainment & Media",
        "n_rates": 82,
        "mean": 4.82,
        "median": 4,
        "p25": 1.13,
        "p75": 7
      }
    ]
  }
}