consumer spending Archives

Buy now, pay later programs — useful tool or slippery slope?

by Savannah Maher

Jun 18, 2024

At a time of high prices and interest rates, BNPL offerings are tempting. But they could lead vulnerable consumers into a debt spiral.

BNPL users generally carry more debt and have less money in the bank, according to research from the Boston Fed.

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Lower-income consumers are spending less. When will the rest of the economy follow?

by Kimberly Adams

May 31, 2024

As you might expect, it's hard to say.

Consumers are starting to change behavior due to sustained higher prices, which have drained savings and pushed more people to rely on credit.

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Dwindling savings and changing consumer tastes have hit Target hard

by Caleigh Wells

May 22, 2024

Meanwhile, its competitors are doing pretty well, including Walmart, where groceries account for 60% of sales.

Most of that extra cushion in people’s savings accounts from the pandemic is now gone, says Columbia professor Brett House.

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Retail sales figures suggest consumers are pulling back

by Mitchell Hartman

May 15, 2024

The latest figures, for April, suggest that rising prices, high interest rates and depleted pandemic savings may finally be weighing on spending.

In surveys, consumers report they’re increasingly worn down by inflation, said Morning Consult's Claire Tassin.

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Americans are saving less. That might actually be a sign of economic strength.

by Henry Epp

Apr 26, 2024

If interest rates fall, expect savings rates to do the same.

A lot of people might still be holding on to some of the money they tucked away earlier in the pandemic, says Tim Quinlan, senior economist at Wells Fargo.

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U.S. GDP grew by 1.6% in the first quarter, slower than expected

by Savannah Maher

Apr 25, 2024

This marks the end of a six-quarter streak of GDP growth of 2% or more. But the downshift might not be cause for worry just yet.

The good news: consumer spending, the force that’s been buoying economic growth for months, still looks solid. The bad news: business leaders aren’t feeling quite as confident.

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Retail sales climbed to a higher-than-expected 0.7% in March

by Samantha Fields

Apr 15, 2024

Consumers are still spending, but that looks a little different now than it has the past few years.

Spending at nonstore retailers — like Temu or Amazon — rose 2.7% last month.

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Consumers might wish for prices to drop, but here's why deflation is not a good thing

by Samantha Fields

Mar 12, 2024

Most of the time deflation is a signal of a struggling economy. Disinflation — when prices still increase, just more slowly — is the goal.

Once prices go up, it’s unusual for them to drop.

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The art of the private label brand

by Matt Levin

Mar 5, 2024

And why Target considers them key to keeping customers spending.

Private label sales reached an all-time high in 2023. Target has over 45 of its own private label brands.

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What do falling inflation and rising incomes mean for consumer spending?

by Justin Ho

Feb 29, 2024

The January PCE report showed inflation easing further but still significant. Moderation in spending could also continue, analysts say.

Wage growth was resilient in January, but Social Security and other factors added to income gains.

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Consumer spending

Buy now, pay later programs — useful tool or slippery slope?

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Lower-income consumers are spending less. When will the rest of the economy follow?

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Dwindling savings and changing consumer tastes have hit Target hard

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Retail sales figures suggest consumers are pulling back

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Americans are saving less. That might actually be a sign of economic strength.

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U.S. GDP grew by 1.6% in the first quarter, slower than expected

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Retail sales climbed to a higher-than-expected 0.7% in March

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Consumers might wish for prices to drop, but here's why deflation is not a good thing

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What do falling inflation and rising incomes mean for consumer spending?

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