Joining us now, Sylvia Jablonsky, Defiance ETF's co-founder and CEO. And we were talking about the some of the positive action we've seen in the stock market in the last what week and a half or so, which maybe calmed some of the fears that we did have earlier uh about whether we wouldn't have a Santa Claus rally. In fact, a lot of people said what we normally see in September and October, we were seeing in November. Some of the uh you know, we see a lot of lows set in October.I want to start with you with w ...

Core Insights - Kroger has experienced a slight decrease in consumer demand due to economic uncertainty and increased competition, with identical sales (excluding fuel) rising by 2.6% year over year in Q3 [1] - The grocery market share for Kroger has decreased to 8.5% in the latest quarter from 8.8% in the same period in 2024 [2] - Walmart remains the leading grocery retailer by dollar share, with Kroger in second place, while Costco has increased its market share to 8.2% from 8% year over year [3] Financial Performance - Kroger reported a loss of $1.3 billion in Q3, attributed to a 44% increase in general, operating, and administrative expenses [4] - The company is facing challenges in attracting price-sensitive customers amid rising competition [5] Consumer Behavior - The interim CEO of Kroger, Ronald Sargent, indicated that consumer sentiment has declined due to inflation and a slowing job market, leading to reduced spending, particularly on discretionary items [5][6] - Consumers are managing their budgets more carefully, making smaller shopping trips, and focusing on value, especially among middle-income shoppers [6] - Sales slowed in the latter half of Q3 due to a pause in SNAP benefits, which resumed after the government shutdown [6] Market Sentiment - Consumer sentiment dropped nearly 5% in November compared to October, with a 10% decrease in perceptions of personal finances and buying conditions for durable goods [8] - Year-ahead inflation expectations slightly decreased from 4.6% in October to 4.5% in November [8]

Core Insights - Dollar store chains are experiencing an increase in higher-income shoppers due to economic uncertainty, with Dollar General reporting a 2.5% same-store sales growth that exceeded expectations [1] - Dollar Tree gained 3 million new shoppers, with 60% classified as high-income households earning over $100,000, up from 50% earlier this year [2] - Dollar Tree's sales growth of 4.2% was broad-based across all income levels, indicating that the store appeals to a wider demographic beyond just low-income consumers [3] - Five Below reported over 14% same-store sales growth, driven by a diverse customer base across various income cohorts [3] - The trend of consumers turning to discount retailers is influenced by evolving trade policies and heightened economic anxiety [3] Economic Context - Consumer sentiment has declined throughout the year, with a slight increase noted in December [4] - The job market has shown mixed signals, with over 1.1 million layoffs reported year-to-date, marking a significant trend since 1993 [4] - Jobless claims reached a three-year low at 191,000 during a shortened holiday week, while private payrolls saw a significant slowdown with 32,000 jobs lost [5]

Core Insights - Consumers are feeling the impact of high prices but are increasingly optimistic about future inflation relief, as indicated by the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, which rose to 53.3 in December from 51.0 in November, surpassing economists' forecasts [1][3][8] Consumer Sentiment - The improvement in consumer sentiment was largely driven by a 13% increase in expectations for future personal finances, with optimism expressed across various demographics [3][4] - Despite the positive shift, overall consumer sentiment remains low, with many still concerned about high prices affecting their financial outlook [4][8] Inflation Expectations - Year-ahead inflation expectations decreased for the fourth consecutive month, with consumers now anticipating a rate of 4.1%, down from 4.5% in the previous month [5][8] - This marks the lowest inflation expectations since January, although they remain above pre-pandemic levels [6][8] Economic Implications - Shifts in consumer sentiment and inflation expectations can influence interest rates, market performance, and consumer spending, which is a significant component of the U.S. economy [2][4] - Economists, including Federal Reserve officials, monitor these expectations closely as they can affect price-setting and wage-setting trends [4][6]

Core Viewpoint - Consumer sentiment in the U.S. improved in December, marking the first increase since July, despite remaining near historic lows, as reported by the University of Michigan [1] Group 1: Consumer Sentiment Data - Consumer sentiment rose to 53.3 in December from 51 in November, approaching the all-time low of 2022 [2] - December's reading exceeded Wall Street's expectations of 52, but remained below the historical benchmark of 100, indicating ongoing economic pessimism [2] Group 2: Factors Influencing Economic Confidence - The increase in consumer sentiment is attributed to a more optimistic outlook on personal finances and inflation, with Americans expecting a 4.1% price increase over the next year, down from 4.5% the previous month [4] - The outlook for personal finances reached its highest level since February, although job market expectations improved only slightly and remained relatively poor [4] - Consumers continue to express frustration over high prices and weakening incomes, which weigh down their personal finances [4]

Core Insights - The article discusses the University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index, which reflects consumer attitudes towards the economy and personal financial situations [1][2]. Group 1: Consumer Sentiment Index - The Consumer Sentiment Index has shown fluctuations, indicating varying levels of consumer confidence in the economy [1][2]. - Recent data suggests a decline in consumer sentiment, which may impact spending and economic growth [1][2]. Group 2: Economic Implications - A decrease in consumer sentiment could lead to reduced consumer spending, affecting retail and service sectors [1][2]. - The index serves as a leading indicator for economic trends, making it crucial for investors to monitor changes in consumer attitudes [1][2].

The yield on the 2-year Treasury note was up to 3.54%, while the 10-year yield was up to 4.1%%. Stocks rose modestly to start Friday's session as Wall Street awaited updates on inflation and consumer sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 79 points, or 0.2%. The S&P 500 was up 0.3%. The Nasdaq Composite was up 0.5%. ...

Economic Indicators - Consumer price inflation for September and Consumer Sentiment for December will be released on Friday [1] - Delayed Personal Income and Outlays for September are expected to show a 0.4 percent increase [3] - Consumer Sentiment for December has a consensus estimate of 52.0, up from 51.0 in the prior month [3] - Factory Orders for October will also be released, with the previous month showing a 0.2 percent increase [3] - Consumer Credit for October is anticipated to increase by $9.4 billion, down from $13.1 billion in the prior month [4] Market Performance - As of 7.25 am ET, Dow futures gained 45.00 points, S&P 500 futures added 12.00 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures were up 82.75 points [2] - Major U.S. averages finished mostly up on Thursday, with Nasdaq rising 51.04 points (0.2 percent) to 23,505.14 and S&P 500 inching up 7.40 points (0.1 percent) to 6,857.12 [2] - Asian stocks ended mixed, with China's Shanghai Composite index surging 0.70 percent to 3,902.81 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index up 0.58 percent at 26,085.08 [4][5] - European shares are trading positively, with the CAC 40 Index gaining 29.56 points (0.36 percent), the German DAX adding 154.34 points (0.65 percent), and the Euro Stoxx 50 Index up 23.29 points (0.41 percent) [6]

Five Below raised its profit outlook for the third time in its fiscal year, lifted by demand for budget-friendly trendy goods as US consumer sentiment wanes amid high prices and a weaker labor market https://t.co/gN6rGVWLMb ...

Hello everyone. Black Friday sales set new records this weekend. The US stock market can't stop going higher. Sentiment is in the toilet. And Professor Peter St. An is going to join us to break down what is really happening in the US economy. We're live today from the desk of Anthony Pompiano. Before we get into today's episode, I need your help. My goal is to get to 1 million subscribers. Right now, we're at 40,041 of you. I love that you're here, but we need more friends. And so, hit the subscribe button ...