Economic Overview - U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated a "very strong" holiday shopping season and predicted a robust end to the year for the U.S. economy [1] - The economy has outperformed expectations with a reported 4% GDP growth in several quarters, and a forecast of 3% real GDP growth for the year despite challenges such as the Schumer shutdown [2] GDP Performance - The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported a contraction of 0.6% year-over-year in GDP for the first quarter of 2025, followed by a significant increase of 3.8% in the second quarter [2] - Initial estimates for third-quarter economic results are set to be published on December 23, with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta projecting an annual GDP growth of 3.5% for that quarter [3] Consumer Sentiment - Consumer spending, which constitutes nearly 70% of U.S. GDP, remains pessimistic, as indicated by the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment survey, which recorded a score of 53.3 in December. This reflects a 4.5% increase from November but a 28% decrease compared to the same period last year [3]

weeks. Diane King Hall is with us and uh is talking about some of the movers here. We're looking at first Rubric a big winner.Diane, great to see you. >> It is speaking of winners. Exactly.Yeah, we're seeing shares of Rubric rally big off the back of its results. It swung into the black. Uh the street was expecting a loss on this one and you had a big beat on revenue as well.Uh EPS adjusted EPS coming in at 10 cents a share for Rubric. Uh the street was expecting a loss of 17 cents per share. So again much ...

Group 1: Consumer Spending Trends - Black Friday spending reached approximately $11.8 billion, a record high compared to last year's $10.8 billion [1] - The strong consumer spending indicates continued consumer strength and robust demand for the holiday season, positively impacting the economy [1][12] Group 2: Amazon (AMZN) Insights - Amazon is a major beneficiary of the holiday shopping season, with millions of orders placed during this period [3] - The company had its strongest holiday season last year, and current consumer spending data suggests a favorable outlook for this year [3] - Despite disappointing stock performance in 2025, analysts have revised EPS expectations upward, anticipating 30% adjusted EPS growth on 12% higher sales [5] Group 3: Shopify (SHOP) Performance - Shopify reported record-breaking sales figures during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend, with $14.6 billion in global sales, a 27% increase from 2024 [10] - Over 81 million consumers purchased from Shopify-powered brands, and more than 15,800 entrepreneurs made their first sale on the platform [10] - Shopify's growth story reflects its resilience during the pandemic era, continuing to thrive in the current market [9][13]

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks gave back some of last week’s rally, as bitcoin fell again on Monday. The S&P 500 slipped 0.5% and broke a five-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 427 points, or 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite dipped 0.4%. Last week’s rally was largely due to rising hopes that the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate next week to help shore up the slowing job market. Such hopes are still high, with traders betting on a roughly 85% chance the Fed will cut at ...

Core Insights - Shoppers are feeling underwhelmed by Black Friday deals, with many noting fewer doorbuster deals and freebies compared to previous years [1][2][3] - Economic concerns such as a cooling job market, stagnant wages, and persistent inflation are impacting consumer sentiment as they enter the holiday shopping season [5][6] Retail Performance - Overall spending during the holiday season is expected to be on par with last year, but unit sales could decline by as much as 2.5%, indicating consumers are spending more but buying less [6] - US retailers typically generate 20% of their annual sales in November and December, but this year they face a more price-sensitive consumer base [7] Consumer Behavior - Shoppers are increasingly selective about their purchases, often opting to buy essentials rather than splurging on luxury items [7][12] - Lower-income consumers are pulling back on spending, contributing to a decline in consumer confidence [13] Promotions and Discounts - Some retailers are offering significant discounts, such as Walmart's 50% off on Vizio TVs and Target's promotions on various products [9][10] - Seasonal retail hiring is expected to be at its lowest level since 2009, which may affect customer service and shopping experience [8] Market Trends - The trend of Black Friday becoming less of a singular event is continuing, with more shoppers taking advantage of earlier sales and online promotions [15] - Tariffs are complicating discount strategies for some brands, making it harder to offer the traditional Black Friday deals [8][14]

This is an interesting kind of situation developing right now because we've talked so much and the economic problems are real. There's no doubt about it and the estimates have been all over the spectrum with regard to just what people are going to spend or even cut back on. What do you see.>> Well, Don, the holiday season is here and price is the battleground. So what we're seeing is that affordability is the main theme as you said and this is because retailers are dealing with a highly discerning consumer ...

Restaurant sales stayed strong before government stalemate ...

T.J. Maxx/Marshalls parent TJX says it is seeing robust sales ahead of the holidays.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.The off-price retailer released earnings Wednesday (Nov. 19) showing a 5% uptick i ...

Core Insights - The iPhone 17 series has generated significant consumer interest, with preorder sales breaking records in China, indicating strong potential for Apple's stock performance during the holiday season [1][2] - The new iPhone models feature improved specifications, and the pricing strategy for the standard model remains attractive to consumers, which may drive sales [2] - The iPhone Air model has received lukewarm interest, but the base and pro models are expected to perform well regardless of the Air's sales [3] Sales Performance - Preorder sales for the iPhone 17 series in China exceeded previous years, with JD.com reporting more preorders in the first minute than the entire first day sales of the iPhone 16 [1] - The standard iPhone 17 model is the best-selling variant in the series [1] Stock Performance - Apple's stock has seen a 25% increase in September and an additional 16% in October, with significant jumps during the product launch cycle [5] - The stock reached an all-time high of $285 on October 30, 2025, and is expected to continue rising during the holiday shopping season [6][7] Market Trends - Historically, Apple’s stock prices have increased in the last two months of the year, often reaching record highs in December [7] - Short-term investors may find Apple stock appealing ahead of the holiday season, while long-term investors might consider waiting until early 2026 due to typical post-holiday price retracements [9]

Thanksgiving is the traditional kickoff to the holiday shopping season, but this year many consumers began making their holiday gift purchases long before Halloween. https://t.co/JExG0hkedN ...