RXI News and Press, iShares Global Consumer Discretionary From 02/07/23

Summary Over the past couple of months, we have seen a clear downtrend emerge in the coincident measure of economic growth, suggesting we are on the path to recession. Inflation is also clearly rolling over. However, this is not the case within the labour market nor the services sector,...

Summary Why investors may be missing the big picture in the markets. Equity markets are facing volatility, but opportunities remain. Markets are off to a strong start, but that may fade soon. Equity markets are off to a strong start this year, but those gains are b...

Summary The impact of inflation on consumer pocketbooks varies, but inflated energy and food costs are negative for consumer discretionary spending. The largest component in the calculation of GDP is associated with the consumer, accounting for more than 70% of the economy. Undoubte...

Summary A progress report on inflation: Inflation appears to have peaked, led by improvements in core goods prices and rate-sensitive sectors like housing. The policy focus has shifted to labor market normalization where early signs of progress are emerging. Is a soft landing in sight? ...

Summary Much of the 2022 flavor of the polycrisis focused on the danger side. But there are opportunities to be explored as well. As we look ahead to 2023, we are at the same time mindful of the potential threats that await and the opportunities that may present themselves as everything...

Summary The first month of 2023 (and the last month of the retail industry’s Q4 2022) saw America’s largest party supply store file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a move that the StarMine credit models had predicted about a year ago. According to StarMine, Bed Bath & Beyon...

Summary The debate about globalization will be interesting as companies increasingly seek alternatives to China and return to more domestic suppliers to solve their global supply chain glitches. The EV earthquake from Tesla’s price cuts is still reverberating, and it will be inte...

Summary The latest December U.S. retail sales surprised observers as the headline index shows sales were weaker than already-weak expectations for December. On a month-over-month basis, many categories struggled across the board. Shoppers spent less on vehicles, gasoline and furniture. ...

Summary Economists were expecting a decline, but the 1.1% slide in retail spending in December was deeper than expected. Real spending in annual terms tends to be a more reliable measure of business-cycle risk. Other business cycle indicators are also signaling economic activity tha...

Summary Not seasonally adjusted, and despite the price drops, total retail sales and ecommerce sales hit records. In December, retail sales fell 1.1% from November, while prices of nondurable goods (dominated by food and gasoline) dropped 1.2%. Prices of durable goods (new and used ...