US Consumers Dial Back in Sign of Anxiety Heading Into Holidays
Shoppers in the SoHo neighborhood of New York on Nov. 24.
Photographer: Michael Nagle/BloombergUS consumers showed signs of fatigue leading up to the longest government shutdown, and their outlook has worsened ever since, sending a note of caution heading into the holiday-shopping season.
Retail sales, not adjusted for inflation, rose a tame 0.2% in September after several months of more robust spending, according to data released Tuesday. A more current report from the Conference Board showed consumer sentiment slid to the lowest in seven months, reflecting anxiety about the labor market and the economy.