Households earning between $50,000 and $100,000 are trading down, cutting back and feeling increasingly strapped, while high earners keep on spending https://t.co/yqyYEM7YLl ...

Market Trends - Food delivery platforms are engaged in a fierce price war, offering coffees for 14 cents and meals for 50 cents [1] - Restaurants and tea chains are suffering from declining foot traffic due to the price war [1]

Wealthy consumers continue to account for a growing share of US consumer spending https://t.co/7S0Yqobzex ...

Joe, I am gonna put something on the table and you tell me what it is. Go on. All right.Here I go. This is a corrugated, I believe, cardboard box. The idea of the box as a macroeconomic indicator. I do see people talking about this idea of boxes as a leading indicator every once in a while.It is unconventional, but some people do it. How valuable are box shipments or tracking the box industry in terms of trying to figure out what's going on with the consumer. Very important for the consumer.About 50% of box ...

Group 1: Market Overview - Small-cap stocks experienced volatility in Q2 2025, with the Russell 2000 Index rebounding 10% from its November 2024 record highs just 55 days after the "Liberation Day" decline [1] - The Russell 2000 returned 8.5% for the quarter, underperforming the Russell 1000 Index, which returned 11.1% [1] Group 2: Company Performance - Oxford Industries, Inc. - Oxford Industries, Inc. (NYSE:OXM) had a one-month return of 0.59% and its shares lost 45.85% of their value over the last 52 weeks, closing at $47.13 per share with a market capitalization of $700.69 million on September 12, 2025 [2] - In Q2 2025, Oxford Industries generated consolidated net sales of $403 million, down from $420 million in Q2 2024 [4] Group 3: Strategic Insights - Stock selection within the consumer discretionary sector for Oxford Industries reversed after a strong Q1 performance due to idiosyncratic headwinds, including increased tariff costs and softening consumer spending [3] - Management is focusing on accelerating its supply chain away from China, with an expected full exit by 2026, and is emphasizing brand innovation and core customer engagement, which leaves optimism for the company's future [3]

Households earning between $50,000 and $100,000 are trading down, cutting back and feeling increasingly strapped, while high earners keep on spending https://t.co/NI8GKWHAdU ...

Consumer Spending Trends - Consumer sentiment has dropped in September as Americans express concerns about job market risks and tariffs, leading to cautious spending habits [2][12] - There is a bifurcation in consumer spending, with high-income consumers continuing to spend while low-income consumers are under pressure, focusing more on needs than wants [5][6][10] - Retailers catering to value-oriented consumers, such as dollar stores and off-price retailers, are performing well, while discretionary retail is experiencing weakness [8][9] Retail Sector Insights - Retail visits increased in July and August, driven by promotional events like Prime Day and back-to-school sales, but the overall consumer remains promotional-driven and cautious [11][12] - Specialty grocery and fresh format groceries are benefiting from high-end consumer spending, while casual dining is also performing well, particularly for brands like Chili's [10][19] - The retail landscape is characterized by a divide between value-oriented and discretionary retailers, with the former capturing market share [7][9] Restaurant Industry Dynamics - Quick service restaurants (QSR) are facing challenges as lower-income consumers trade down to value grocers and convenience stores due to inflation [16][17] - QSRs are responding with increased promotional activities to attract customers, while casual dining establishments are seeing success by retaining customers and increasing visit frequency [18][19] - The restaurant sector is adapting to consumer preferences, with a focus on value and experience to maintain customer loyalty [20][52] Black Rock Coffee Bar IPO - Black Rock Coffee Bar made its public debut on the NASDAQ with shares opening around $26.50, aiming to expand from 158 locations to about 1,000 by 2035 [38][41] - The company emphasizes a unique model that combines drive-thru convenience with a lobby experience, focusing on customer engagement through baristas [39][40] - Despite rising coffee prices, Black Rock Coffee Bar has managed to keep prices consistent by sourcing beans from multiple countries and adjusting supply chains [44][46]

CNBC and the National Retail Federation releasing the latest uh monitor uh retail monitor numbers and senior economics reporter Steve Leeman joins us with the latest on that. Steve, hey, good morning, Andrew. Consumer spending pushed ahead in August with slightly above average gains held by back to school shopping, but the CNBC NRF retail monitor could also be picking up some tariff effects inside uh this consumer spending.The retail monitor powered by real credit card spending data from Affinity Solutions ...

New Zealand consumers scaled back spending in the three months through June, reinforcing expectations the economy took a step backwards in the period https://t.co/7rGXvRvkSO ...

Market Performance & Fed Policy Expectations - The market has already priced in a significant amount of exuberance, with the S&P 500 up almost 10% and the NASDAQ up almost 12% following a V-shaped recovery [1] - Markets have priced in more Fed easing than is currently reflected in Fed fund futures, which could be a cause for concern [4] - The market is questioning whether it is pricing in too much Fed easing, considering inflation numbers [5] Inflation & Economic Concerns - CPI data indicates persistent goods inflation and sticky services inflation, suggesting a higher inflation paradigm than the Fed desires [3] - A weakening jobs market coupled with rising inflation creates a challenging environment for consumers already facing increased prices due to tariffs and trade war uncertainty [6] - Jobless claims have reached a four-year high, the worst since October 2021 [8] - The current Fed policy of maintaining rates may be contributing to higher prices, particularly in shelter costs, which constitute a third of the CPI [9][10] Impact of Rate Cuts & Capex - A rate-cutting cycle could weaken the dollar and provide a tailwind for the stock market [7] - Significant capital expenditure (capex) has matched the consumer's contribution to two-thirds of GDP, acting as a substantial tailwind [7] - A pullback in capex and a weakening consumer could lead to a recession [8]