Affordability is a major issue for US consumers:
The proportion of the S&P 500 consumer-facing companies mentioning “affordability” during earnings calls hit 19% in Q3 2024, the most on record.
Over the last 3 years, this share has more than TRIPLED, as the US economy… pic.twitter.com/rMXVysHlJS
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) November 24, 2024
Consumers across the U.S. are feeling the pinch as affordability concerns skyrocket. The rapid increase in prices over the last three years has hit spending habits hard. The most recent data shows a historic shift, with 19% of S&P 500 consumer-facing companies mentioning “affordability” during earnings calls in Q3 2024—the most ever recorded. This surge reflects a growing sensitivity to costs, especially for non-essential items.
Increased prices have created an environment where household budgets are stretched thin. U.S. household debt reached an all-time high of $17.94 trillion in Q3 2024, a troubling milestone that signals mounting financial strain. As costs rise, consumers are cutting back, with the pressure compounded by stagnant wages, high interest rates, and rising household debt.
“The proportion of S&P 500 consumer-facing companies mentioning ‘affordability’ during earnings calls hit 19% in Q3 2024,” noted Bloomberg. Over the past three years, this share has more than tripled, underscoring the significant impact of inflation, the sharpest since the 1980s.
Retail giants like Dollar Tree (-56%), Dollar General (-48%), and Target (-15%) have seen steep declines in stock performance, reflecting the financial strain on shoppers. As affordability continues to dominate corporate concerns, the reality of the $17.94 trillion in household debt paints a stark picture of consumer finances in crisis.
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/15/why-consumer-sensitivity-to-prices-is-rising.html
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-consumer-woes-grow-as-inflation-continues-to-bite-11690347612
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/15/why-consumer-sensitivity-to-prices-is-rising.html