Now Even Walmart Is Worried About US Consumers: Andrea Felsted

It seems like all we’ve heard this year from the major US retailers is how consumers are “under pressure” as pandemic-era savings run out and inflation rates remain elevated. Various surveys showing weak consumer sentiment have supported the assertions by retailers. The only problem is that the actual data proved otherwise, with consumer spending consistently coming in stronger than forecast.

So, as we head into the important end-of-year holiday shopping season, should we really be paying attention when Walmart Inc. says it’s being “more cautious on the consumer than we were 90 days ago at this time” and that there was a “sharper ...