JILL - Mall stocks track lower on Delta variant concerns even with back-to-school spending forecast to boom

olaser/E+ via Getty Images Mall retailers like L Brands ([[LB]] -3.2%), Guess ([[GES]] -3.6%), Carter's ([[CRI]] -2.2%), J. Jill ([[JILL]] -1.6%) and Gap ([[GPS]] -1.4%) are in negative territory on the day. Department store stocks Macy's ([[M]] -3.5%), Dillard's ([[DDS]] -4.0%) and Kohl's ([[KSS]] -1.8%) are also slumping. The negative sentiment is tied to rising Delta variant COVID cases in the U.S. and higher COVID-related hospitalizations in some regions. Does the selling pressure line up with consumers seemingly ready to spend? The National Retail Federation says consumers plan to spend record amounts for both school and college supplies as families and students plan to return to in-person classrooms this fall. Based on a new survey. total back-to-school spending is forecast by the NRF to rise 9.4% to a record $37.1B. That tally would mark an all-time high in the survey's history. "The pandemic forced parents and their school-aged children to

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Mall stocks track lower on Delta variant concerns even with back-to-school spending forecast to boom