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Investors Are Winning Big by Betting on American Consumers
Consumer spending has actually been pretty weak, posing a puzzle for economists
By and
Do U.S. Retail Sales Measure Consumer Strength?
The $150 billion windfall from a plunge in gasoline costs has failed to unleash a surge in U.S. household purchases, prompting economists to slash forecasts for economic growth. Investors, sensing the bang is coming, placed an early bet on the consumer and it's paying off.
The Standard & Poor's 500 Consumer Discretionary Sector Index has risen about 6 percent since the start of this year, handily beating the broader S&P 500's 1 percent gain, even as consumption missed analyst projections.
