Cost of Living

Retailers ‘Uncharacteristically Blunt’ in Telling Customers Tariffs Will Raise Prices
Retailers ‘Uncharacteristically Blunt’ in Telling Customers Tariffs Will Raise Prices
April 17, 2025  |  Retail

Some retailers are reportedly being “uncharacteristically blunt” in sharing with customers the impact new U.S. tariffs are having on the prices of their products. This...

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Online Sales Muted as Consumers Rush to Buy Cars and TVs Ahead of Tariffs
Online Sales Muted as Consumers Rush to Buy Cars and TVs Ahead of Tariffs
April 16, 2025  |  Consumer Insights

As earnings season kicked off last week, JPMorgan’s CFO Jeremy Barnum said on the conference call with analysts that consumers had been front-loading their spending...

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Inflation’s Up and Sentiment’s Down as Consumers Pad Their Savings
Inflation’s Up and Sentiment’s Down as Consumers Pad Their Savings
March 28, 2025  |  Economy

The push and pull of various pressures — inflation, tariffs and worries about the general state of affairs — has shown up in several economic...

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Burlington and Ross Double Down on Value as Consumers Seek Deals
Burlington and Ross Double Down on Value as Consumers Seek Deals
March 07, 2025  |  Earnings

In an era where consumer confidence is being tested by inflation and rising living costs, off-price retailers like Burlington Stores and Ross Stores are doubling...

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Walmart’s McMillon Says Consumers Are Prioritizing Value Purchases
Walmart’s McMillon Says Consumers Are Prioritizing Value Purchases
February 28, 2025  |  Consumer Insights

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon reportedly said Thursday (Feb. 27) that the retailer is seeing signs of stress among consumers due to food prices remaining high. Speaking...

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Restaurant Association: Tariffs Could Cost Industry $12 Billion
Restaurant Association: Tariffs Could Cost Industry $12 Billion
February 25, 2025  |  Retail

The restaurant industry has urged the White House to avoid tariffs on food and beverages. Those tariffs could cost the sector more than $12 billion...

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eCommerce Sales Take Big Hit for January; Is Uncertainty to Blame?
eCommerce Sales Take Big Hit for January; Is Uncertainty to Blame?
February 14, 2025  |  eCommerce

January’s retail sales data showed a broad slump, worse than economists had expected. And though the headlines and analysis — depending on where you go...

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January’s Inflation Shows Essential Expenses Erode Consumers’ Purchasing Power
January’s Inflation Shows Essential Expenses Erode Consumers’ Purchasing Power
February 12, 2025  |  Economy

It’s not just about the eggs. Consumers were already feeling the pinch of higher inflation well before the January data on the Consumer Price Index...

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Consumer Sentiment Drops Amid Concerns About Tariffs and Inflation
Consumer Sentiment Drops Amid Concerns About Tariffs and Inflation
February 07, 2025  |  Consumer Insights

Consumer sentiment dropped about 5% in February, falling to its lowest level since July, according to preliminary results for the University of Michigan’s February Surveys...

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