Will renewed inflation pressure break the American consumer? After last week’s hot inflation data shifted the market narrative, that’s the burning question. We may get some answers this week. A number of the nation’s largest retailers, including industry bellwethers Home Depot (HD), Lowe’s (LOW), Walmart (WMT), and Target (TGT) are set to report their second-quarter…Read more
The Path Forward We’re all still digesting the results of last week’s presidential election and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut, but markets wait for no one. This week brings key inflation data in the form of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) reports. The data will help provide an update…Read more
Spending Slowdown Lower-income households have been hit harder by the high price environment of the past years. While wealthier households had the opportunity to downshift to cheaper grocery stores or store brand products, for example, those with less income may not have had that opportunity. Economists have characterized the economy as “bifurcated” or “two-speed” to…Read more
