Consumer Behavior - Chinese shoppers are increasing spending on leisure activities [1] - The trend indicates a shift away from splurging on designer brands [1]

Market Trends - Emerging markets are showing increased consumption while Western consumers are more abstemious [1]

Joining me now is Bill Simon, former Walmart US president and CEO. Bill, it's great to have you here. Give me a little bit of your thesis on why you think the consumer is in control.>> Hey Courtney, good to see you again. Yeah, I mean, look, the consumer's, you know, pretty flush right now. Nominal wages are up 4%.The inflation report today was relatively tame. There's been a lot of, you know, dark news about tariff this and tariff that and, you know, it is a bit of a roller coaster. It's on, it's off, it's ...

Corporate Restructuring & Efficiency - Target is streamlining the organization to tighten things up and initiate change faster, involving approximately 1800 corporate jobs, including 800 unfilled positions [1] - The company identified bloat as an issue, a trend seen across industries post-pandemic [2][3] - Corporate headcount cuts are considered a normal course of business, with Walmart also announcing similar cuts earlier in the year [4] Holiday Season Outlook - Target's corporate restructuring won't impact client-facing operations, seasonal hires, or in-store employee numbers [5] - Retail success during the holiday season hinges on inventory availability, accurate product selection, and customer support/experience [6] - Most holiday goods orders were placed in January/February, with goods arriving in July/August, positioning companies well for the season [9] - Consumers are expected to seek value and spread out spending to avoid large credit card bills in January [10] Pricing & Tariffs - Retailers are prioritizing avoiding price increases, exploring options like negotiating with suppliers and sharing costs [11][12] - Lower order volumes and reduced expectations for quick refills impact supplier negotiations [12] - Certain product categories will inevitably be influenced by tariffs, leading to some price increases [11][12]

The Q3 earnings season is kicking off in full force, and one key theme that we're keen to watch is how consumer spending continues to play out. After all, the stock market's blazing records are at odds with an uneasy economy, and retail/apparel brandsWith combined experience of covering technology companies on Wall Street and working in Silicon Valley, and serving as an outside adviser to several seed-round startups, Gary Alexander has exposure to many of the themes shaping the industry today. He has been a ...

Core Insights - The latest inflation data indicates a continued rise in prices, with headline inflation increasing by 0.3% in September, leading to an annual rate of 3%, the highest since the beginning of the year [2][3] Inflation Trends - Essential categories such as food and shelter are contributing to persistent inflation, with shelter costs rising by 0.2% in September and 3.6% year-over-year, while food prices increased by 0.2% in September and 3.1% annually [4][5] Consumer Behavior - Consumers are adapting to inflation by trading down to store brands, cutting discretionary spending, and strategically using credit cards to manage cash flow, with elevated debit card use as they try to stay within budget [8][10] Consumer Sentiment - The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index indicates that inflation remains a significant concern for consumers, with expectations for a 4.6% rise in prices over the next year, slightly down from previous expectations [11] Spending Patterns - Despite rising prices, spending activity shows resilience among U.S. consumers, who are adjusting their spending habits to cope with higher costs, indicating that inflation is more of a backdrop than a barrier for many [12]

Retail Industry Trends - Retail executives describe consumers as "resilient and choiceful," indicating a selective shopping behavior in a competitive market [2][7] - The industry anticipates shoppers will respond positively to bargains, suggesting a return to sales promotions [3] - Retailers are not significantly concerned about inventory levels, alleviating previous worries about product availability [2] Consumer Behavior - Consumers are expected to aggregate their spending around key shopping moments to capitalize on deals [2] - Kohl's anticipates shoppers will make an average of 15 store trips between November and January [2] - Consumers are trading down to lower-priced private label items instead of national brands [2] Retail Strategies - Retailers aim to simplify the shopping experience for consumers [1] - Retailers may adjust promotion durations or item selections to maintain profitability while meeting consumer demands [5] - Academy Sports CEO noted higher take rates on promotions compared to last year, indicating consumer responsiveness to deals [2][4]

Now, Drew Mattis, chief market strategist at Metife Investment Management. You know, Drew, I have to start this off by by reminding viewers that I do cover the retail sector. And so, I think about the consumer an awful lot.And I have been really surprised pleasantly on how well the consumer has held up. I'll even go back five years, 2020. If you would have told me that we would have seen retail spending the way that we have over the last 5 years, knowing what happened in the broader world, I would have neve ...

Chinese shoppers are splurging on leisure, not designer brands https://t.co/7tdYiVar4n ...

Consumer Behavior - Chinese shoppers are increasing spending on leisure activities [1] - The focus of spending is shifting away from designer brands [1]