Latest news with #consumerconfidence
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Starbucks earnings, consumer confidence, JOLTS: What to Watch
Market Domination Overtime host Josh Lipton takes a look at the top stories for investors to watch on Tuesday, July 29. In the morning, UnitedHealth (UNH), Boeing (BA), Spotify (SPOT), and Royal Caribbean (RCL) all report earnings. Visa (V) and Starbucks (SBUX) will post results after the markets close. Consumer confidence data for July will be posted in the morning, with economists expecting an uptick from June. Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data for June will be released in the morning. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Market Domination Overtime here. Time now for to watch Tuesday, July 29th. We're going to start off on the earnings front. We're going to be getting another big batch of earnings on Tuesday, including United Health Group, Boeing, and Starbucks. Now, Health Group announced results for the second quarter. The outlook is in focus for the health insurance company. And it was expecting it won't bring back its 2025 forecast when it reports Q2 earnings. But investors may feel reassured if the company sounds more positive on medical cost trends compared to peers like Elevance Health. And taking a look at the consumer monthly consumer confidence data for July that's coming out on Tuesday. Economists forecasting that number to tick up compared to June to 96, signaling people are feeling more optimistic about the economy as President Trump's trade deal deadline approaches on August 1st. And finally, we're going to be getting monthly Jots data. That's the job openings and labor turnover survey. Job openings expected to drop to 7.6 million, suggesting employers are posting fewer job listings. This all coming ahead, of course, of the full July jobs report on Friday. Related Videos Healthcare stocks: Buy Stryker, pass on UnitedHealth PagerDuty reportedly explores sale, Coinbase, Lockheed Martin Samsung to Make Tesla AI Chips in $16.5 Billion Deal Why diversifying risk management is 'key' right now Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sunny weather boosts UK retail sales in June
Retail sales volume in the UK rose by 0.9% in June 2025, recovering from a steep 2.8% fall in May but still falling short of economists' expectations of a 1.2% rise. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) attributed this rebound to England's warmest June on record, which spurred demand for food and drink, automotive fuel and summer clothing. dr kris hamer's response to ons retail sales dataDr Kris Hamer, director of Insight at the British Retail Consortium (BRC), responded to the latest ONS Retail Sales Index, which showed retail sales up 3.5% by value and 1.8% by volume year‑on‑year. He noted that warm, sunny weather encouraged higher spending on cooling appliances, food and drink, and social gatherings. Hamer warned that consumer confidence declined in July, exposing sales performance to risk for the rest of the summer. Retailers were facing around £7 billion of additional costs stemming from last year's budget, which could force higher prices or cutbacks in investment if further taxation measures are introduced. Context: seasonal spending and broader economic backdrop Retailers across food stores, non‑store (online) outlets and automotive fuel segments recorded gains. Online spending reached its highest level since February 2022, with fuel sales up 2.8%. In contrast, household goods and second‑hand retailers saw slight declines, attributed to reduced footfall. Despite the mid‑year bounce, overall retail sales remain below pre‑pandemic volumes, and quarterly growth has weakened. Inflation climbed to 3.6% in June, notably driven by food prices, further tightening household budgets. Growth supported by weather and live events According to multiple analysts, the warm weather combined with a packed live events calendar—such as Wimbledon and major concerts—helped spur extra retail activity around hospitality and leisure sectors. Barbecues, drinks and event-related outfits supported sales in supermarkets and department stores, while department store sales rose by around 2.1%. Consumer sentiment and what lies ahead While June brought a temporary uplift in retail sales, consumer sentiment turned sour in July, as confidence slipped and households prepared for potential tax increases in the autumn Budget. With £7 billion in budget-driven cost pressures hitting retailers, concerns are mounting over pricing, investment and jobs in the coming months. Analysis of retail trends and risks weather-driven boost – the record high temperatures prompted impulsive food, drink and fuel purchases along with demand for cooling devices. online spending rebound – non-store retail volumes rose 1.7% in June, the strongest since early 2022. Fuel and hospitality segments saw double‑digit growth. economic fragility ahead – a sharp fall in confidence during July compounded by rising inflation and looming fiscal policy risks places the rest of summer trading under pressure. With cost-of-living and inflation concerns still strong, and uncertainty around taxation and spending entering the autumn, analysts say retailers can expect subdued consumer demand and tight margins in the weeks ahead. "Sunny weather boosts UK retail sales in June" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Apple, Meta, Amazon Face Mounting Tariff Pressures Amid AI Push: US Earnings Week Ahead
Apple Inc., Inc. and Microsoft Corp. are among the bluechip names reporting next week that will underscore how companies are confronting tariff-fueled cost increases even as consumer confidence falters and artificial-intelligence investment needs grow. Meta Platforms Inc., seen as the most exposed to an ad spending pullback in the US by large Chinese advertisers, is likely to be quizzed about its unusually high compensation offers to lure AI talent.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Consumer confidence falls amid UK price rises
UK consumers have been shaken by rising inflation, with the latest BRC‑Opinium survey showing a sharp drop in consumer confidence as living costs climb. The data points to growing concern among households over the economy and personal finances. Economy outlook darkens as inflation bites Consumer expectations for the UK economy over the next three months fell further—to –33 in July from –28 in June—and personal financial outlook slipped to –7 from –5. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said the decline in confidence was unsurprising: 'With the UK economy shrinking for the second consecutive month, … rising inflation, particularly for food, has put more pressure on personal finances'. This sentiment matches ONS figures showing inflation at 3.6% in June, with food and non‑alcoholic drinks rising 4.5% year‑on‑year. Grocery prices fuel cautious spending Despite falling confidence, consumers expect to spend more on groceries—retail spending sentiment nudged up to +3 from +2, with overall spending expectations rising to +16. Kris Hamer, BRC's director of insight, remarked that food inflation has reached its highest level since early last year, driven by rising costs of bills and business expenses. Grocery bills are projected to increase by around £275 annually, squeezing household budgets further. Retail inflation shakes high street resilience Retail inflation has persisted for nine months, in part due to rising employment costs following the Chancellor's budget, said Dickinson. She warned that further tax increases could deepen inflation, suggesting business rates reform must ensure no store ends up worse off. Reuters recently reported UK retail spending rose 3.1% in June, largely driven by food inflation—the sharpest increase since March 2024—while non‑food sales lagged. That underlines how inflation, rather than stronger consumer demand, is propelling overall spending figures in the short term. Background: inflation and economic squeeze UK inflation, currently above the Bank of England's 2% target, has been driven by higher food, energy and wage‑related costs. Economists warn that while interest rate cuts may help in 2026, households remain under pressure. Spending on essentials continues to rise as discretionary spending remains subdued. With food prices leading inflation and consumer confidence weakening, retailers face a delicate balancing act. Competitive pricing strategies may help, but persistent cost pressures risk dampening demand. As government considers reforms, the retail sector is urging protections for both consumers and high‑street businesses in the months ahead. "Consumer confidence falls amid UK price rises" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
News.com.au
22-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
End of financial year sales drive massive billion dollar spending boom
Savvy shoppers have spent more than $19.2bn online in the last three months in a sign of renewed consumer confidence and anticipated rate relief. The Australia Post eCommerce report shows a massive 7.9 million Australians are now shopping online, with every category tracked seeing a lift in spending. This was led by $4.2bn in online marketplaces, $3.9bn in food and liquor, and $2.7bn spent in on fashion. Australia Post puts the surge in online shopping down to a mix of bargain hunting Aussies targeting the end of financial year, easing cost of living pressures and households expecting further interest rate relief. One of those taking advantage of this sales period was Central Coast mortgage holder and mum Justine Ribgy who said June was always an expensive period for her household. 'We took advantage of those online retail offers more so around household appliances that needed replacing,' she said. 'My husband and I are also in the year being 40 so we had some big gifts there and our children's birthday's fall in June and July, so when we add all that up the (end of financial year sales) is a big savings.' The increase in customer spending came during a period when the Reserve Bank of Australia initially held the cash rate in April, before slashing 25 basis points in May. Households had also expected further relief in July, with a cut widely forecasted at the start of the new financial year. Instead, the central bank held the official cash rate at 3.85 per cent. Ms Ribgy said even though the RBA held the official cash rate in July, it was still a little win for households 'We have had to budget month to month with the cost of living over the last couple of years so a rate cut frees up our discretionary spending. We can be a little less frugal,' she told NewsWire. 'To be honest, even with the hold … it's still positive. It gives us that confidence to loosen the purse strings a little bit.' Despite the increasing overall spend, Australia Post research showed Australians are spending less per transaction with the basket size falling by 1.6 per cent over the previous year. Instead Aussies are buying more often and are turning to marketplaces and department stores to get the cheapest price product. Australian Post general manager customer success Chelsea O'Reilly said Australians were taking their time when it comes to online shopping in order to get the best deal possible. 'Consumers are becoming a whole lot more savvy and strategic in terms of their shopping and we've seen that with an increase in the amount of time they are spending on online marketplaces and department stores,' Ms O'Reilly said. 'They are going there so they can compare brands, pricing and maximise their savings.' Aussies proved their love for a quick bargain, spurring a significant 28 per cent spike in online department store spending during the quarter. Younger Aussies remain the most likely to buy online with Millennials spending $6.9bn online, followed by Gen X at $5.3bn and Gen Z who spent $3.4bn. Ms Reilly said with more Australians choosing to spend their money online, the postal service was investing heavily to keep up with customer demand. 'We are heavily investing in delivering choice and convenience for our customers,' she said.
