Overall consumer spending growth has been sub-par, as the windfall from lower energy prices has translated largely into a high personal savings rate rather than increased consumption growth. As a result, performance among retailing…

The previous Insight outlined the case for good building supply store sales growth, but an aggressive rise in wage inflation and intensifying deflation pressures may provide a negative offset. Meanwhile, the gap between house price…

Both Home Depot and Lowe's produced strong profit results in the most recent quarter, aided by a warm winter weather, which pulled forward sales of many products. The odds of the industry maintaining decent sales momentum are good,…

The latest National Association of Restaurant survey showed a sharp slowdown in activity, with same store sales contracting for the first time in years. This is not an aberration. Despite rising real disposable incomes, consumers are…