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Excerpt:
- The state of the consumer is mixed with some companies reporting declining sales trends while others say spending is solid
- Back-to-school shopping season is underway, and investors anxiously await results and guidance from retailers in the electronics, clothing, and furnishing areas
- The National Retail Federation expects a new record in total sales, though down from 2021’s robust total once inflation is considered
What is the state of the consumer? There are signs that wealthier groups are weathering the current inflationary storm just fine while the bottom quintile of income-earners struggle to meet the rising cost of living. High grocery bills, soaring rents, and still elevated prices at the pump put a strain on Americans’ budgets just as the all-important back-to-school shopping season gets in full swing.