'Anxious' shoppers keep scaling back and hunting for deals, retailers say

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As economists continue to seek clarity on how Americans are faring after the federal government shutdown paused data collection, the country’s largest retailers offered a window this week into the consumer mood in the lead-up to the most crucial spending season of the year.

Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s and TJX - the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods - all described a cautious consumer, with tariffs, political tensions, still-high interest rates, an uncertain job market and the rising cost of essentials bogging down their outlook on the economy. But they continue to spend as the holiday season approaches - stretching their budget to afford groceries and essentials and willing to splurge if the deal is right and the product is new and on-trend.

Analysts also had a caveat: The future could get murkier after the holidays as more tariff-induced price increases will likely be passed on to consumers.

Consumers are “stable on the necessities but hesitant on big spending,” said Bryan Hayes, an analyst at Zacks Investment Research. “This cautionary theme of spending will certainly linger into early next year and likely midway through.”

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/anxious-shoppers-keep-scaling-back-133844789.html