Job gains are supporting an outlook for sustained growth in 2018 and raising prospects for slower-growing places across the middle and Northeast part of the country—led by job gains in energy, mining and other goods industries. Although the strongest parts of…
Gen X consumers and the clothing category were the weakest links as a second straight monthly decline in spending confidence suggests a post-holiday return to less robust spending. See more about holiday results here. Millennials also showed weakness in their confidence…
The U.S. economy appears to be on track to sustain economic growth into 2018 based on insights from the latest GDP data through the fourth quarter of 2017. The outlook is particularly encouraging given the latest uptick in the data excluding…
Holiday sales for November-December approached a 6% gain, which outpaced forecasts of a better holiday and year-ago performance by as much as two percentage points or more. The strength was evident across all types of brick and mortar stores—not just online….
Consumer price pressures edged higher through the end of 2017 in ways that remain a threat to retail goods most of all. Price inflation rose in food and energy and remained elevated in services—in stark contrast to prices that continued to…
Spending confidence sagged in December amid uncertainty about tax reform effects—especially among Gen X and Boomer households, who make up the bulk of affected tax payers. Millennials were the encouraging exception. Their confidence to spend over the next 90 days continued…
The holidays are shaping up even better than forecast as November retail sales surged and prior months were revised upward—raising prospects for a strong consumer spending trend to start to the New Year. Store channels—primarily home improvement, electronics, and home furnishings…