GDP growth in the U.S. was sluggish last quarter

Apr 27, 2023
Inflation was up and inventories down, but consumer spending kept GDP growing — albeit at a slower pace.
Consumers are still buying things, but "inflation wears you down," warns Morning Consult's John Leer.
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Layoffs signal retailers are adjusting to more sharp turns

Apr 17, 2023
Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy are cutting staff as consumers pull back on discretionary spending.
Retail sales had a weak showing in March, and stores like Best Buy and Walmart are laying off workers.
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According to a recent report from Ipsos, consumers are slightly uncertain about the future of the economy, even though consumer spending hasn't eased in the face of high interest rates and prices.
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Bank failures add another dose of anxiety to uncertain economy

Mar 13, 2023
Viral terms like "bank run" do not help when we're already looking at high prices, rising interest rates and big layoffs in tech.
People line up outside a Silicon Valley Bank office in Santa Clara, California, on Monday. Worries were stoked by widespread news of bank failures, and some people received alarming emails from vendors associated with SVB.
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For online shoppers, is too much variety a blessing or a curse?

Feb 21, 2023
With thousands of items and products to choose from, consumers need to protect themselves from making the wrong purchase.
Sifting through the thousands of product choices online is getting harder.
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What recession fears? Consumers shopped up a storm in January

Feb 15, 2023
We spent despite being whipsawed by economic news. Raises and slowing inflation helped.
Because of a surplus of inventory, consumers can continue to expect markdowns from retailers.
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Consumers seem pretty happy with their own finances. But they're worried about the economy.

Feb 10, 2023
Higher interest rates and inflation still spark anxiety. But wages have grown, and some have a greater feeling of financial security.
Despite the burden of inflation, some consumers still feel upbeat about their personal economies.
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For public good, not for profit.

Retail is recovering — and flowering — in smaller cities and the suburbs

Feb 1, 2023
A new report from the JPMorgan Chase Institute finds retail has followed consumers to where many more now work and live.
Consumers are continuing to spend — just closer to home. Above, people walk at an outdoor shopping area in Alpharetta, Georgia.
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Some consumers more upbeat as inflation moderates

Jan 30, 2023
The University of Michigan's sentiment survey rose 9% in January, though it's still near decade-lows.
Consumer sentiment registered an uptick in the University of Michigan's latest survey, but buyers remain wary about the economy as a whole.
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As our online behavior changes, companies spend less ad money on Google and Meta

Jan 4, 2023
Part of the reason: Social media platforms like TikTok are changing the way we shop online.
While Google is still a big part of the ad business, people are turning to sites like Amazon "as a product search engine instead," said Sucharita Kodali, a retail analyst at Forrester.
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