A year after President Donald Trump declared his “liberation day” and imposed sweeping tariffs on imports, kicking off a wave of economic and political uncertainty, some companies are still feeling the effects. While some industries have emerged largely unscathed — having weathered twists and turns of several tariff iterations — others, such as retail, automotive,…
A major teachers’ union is calling for its members to skip Target when buying back-to-school supplies, the latest twist in a series of boycotts that have targeted the big-box retailer as its turnaround shows signs of life, CNBC has learned. The AFT, or American Federation of Teachers, passed a resolution Thursday that calls on its 1.8…
Always products are displayed on a shelf in a supermarket in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina October 29, 2024. Dado Ruvic | Reuters Rising inflation and ever-changing tariff policies have led to higher prices across store shelves over the past few years, squeezing consumers’ budgets. An often overlooked example: menstrual products. The average price of menstrual…
The Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate decision, a batch of economic data, and several notable earnings reports are all on the docket this week. However, the biggest event for Wall Street will arguably be out in California, as Nvidia holds its influential AI technology conference. Well, that is what we would usually say heading into…
The Iran war could soon mean higher prices on store shelves for consumers. Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz passage has significantly disrupted the global supply chain, affecting goods from fertilizers to metals to gas and fuel. The passage is a critical point, funneling tens of millions of barrels of oil daily along…
It’s difficult to describe the U.S. economy in black and white terms like “good” or “bad.” On several fronts, the data says the economy is healthy. But surveys show American consumers don’t feel that way. “There’s no doubt right now that different data can show slightly different narratives,” says Heather Long, chief economist at Navy…
The Supreme Court in Washington, Jan. 27, 2026. Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images The Supreme Court may decide the fate of President Donald Trump’s tariff agenda as soon as Friday — and the ruling has implications for consumers’ wallets, according to economists. If the high court were to rule that certain tariffs are…
Walmart CEO John Furner, left, and Target CEO Michael Fiddelke. Walmart (L) | Getty Images (R) When Walmart and Target report holiday earnings this quarter, investors may quickly brush off those results. Instead, they will likely focus more on the two big-box retailers’ futures under new CEOs and the outlook for U.S. consumers in 2026….
Sign at the entrance to a Walmart in Venice, Florida(L), and a T.J. Maxx store in Pinole, California. Getty Images As more major retailers post earnings, one theme is clear: Value players are winning both the wealthy and the cash-strapped. Walmart and TJX, T.J. Maxx’s parent company, stood apart from the pack this week by…
Shoppers walk through Manhattan on Nov. 7, 2025, in New York City. Spencer Platt | Getty Images High-income consumers are trading down, Gen Z is spending less, and low-income shoppers are still struggling, according to many consumer companies that shared their latest quarterly results in recent weeks. Those trends may not bode well for the…
