The February Retail Sales report came in hotter-than-expected, revealing a rebound in consumer spending trends. Mastercard Economics Institute Chief US Economist Michelle Meyer joins Yahoo Finance Live to discuss what this means for the consumer.
Meyer notes that the February retail sales showed a “return to trend-like expansion” with characteristics that were seen before the holiday season. She highlights the consumer as being “empowered in this environment,” as easing prices across many categories are falling and giving consumers “real purchasing power.”
Meyer points out the “consistency of the story” with outperformance in online spending and “experience-based” spending. She notes that this shows “consumers have the ability to spend;” however, they are being mindful of prices and prioritizing their spending.
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