The Consumer Is the Economy A number of economic and earnings reports this week could offer crucial insights into the current state of consumer spending, which drives roughly two-thirds of America’s economic activity. Retail earnings reports are particularly significant in light of recent cautionary statements from big-box giants like Walmart (WMT), which warned of softening…Read more
Slow Spending Strong spending has helped buoy an uncertain economy over the past few months. But American consumers might finally be tapping out. Retail sales dipped 0.1% between October and September — the first decline since March after a strong summer for consumer spending. Economic Sales Data The sales declines were broad-based, though furniture stores…Read more
Wage Growth Wanes The pandemic affected the economy in many ways. As businesses struggled to get workers to join them for the great reopening, low-wage jobs got a juicy pay boost. Fast forward to today, that wage boost effect is waning, and that might have a knock-on effect on the economy. Economic Tides Turning As…Read more
