Consumers have never hated an economy as much as this one, and they’re taking out their frustrations by doing what they do best.
Shopping.
It’s a paradox that has defined the post-pandemic era: Americans’ unabated spending has fortified an economy that they perceive as unaffordable.
Walmart, Target, Home Depot and Lowe’s this week all reported surprisingly strong earnings. Even more confounding: They mostly delivered optimistic outlooks for the rest of the year, even as inflation is expected to remain high throughout 2026.
They’re not alone. Left-for-dead Gap is resurgent. Starbucks and Chipotle, which had both previously said consumers abandoned them because of high costs, reported that customers are dining with them again.
