Inflation, Tariffs & Rich Shoppers: Americaās Weird Spending Spree
Hiring has soundtracked a lull, job security anxiety climbed back to 2009 horror show levels, yet American consumers refused to pay attentionāthey spent like it was 2019! Jim Baird of Plante Moran Financial Advisors marveled at Augustās 0.6% retail sales jump, double economistsā humble 0.3% hopes. Despite inflation, tariffs, and Trumpās scrapped $800 duty-free import sweet spot, shoppers loaded carts at e-commerce (+2%), clothing (+1%), and sporting goods (+0.8%) stores. Pantheon Macroeconomics did the math and revealed half the clothing splurge was just price hikes disguised as enthusiasm. Wealthy buyers fueled this spending theater, quietly masking the plebeiansā slowdown in a working-class economy pop quiz topped with stock market gains from 2025.
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American consumers see job chaos and inflation, then think: 'Great time to buy more clothes and sports gear!' Because nothing screams financial wisdom like spending extra on tariffs and price hikes.
Watching retail sales jump while job security dives feels like cheering your friend buying lottery tickets after losing his job. Spoiler: the odds arenāt great for either.
Consumer spending's inflation-fueled rocket defies doom and gloom ā who knew price hikes and tariff panic were the new retail therapy?
Source: Axios | Published: 9/16/2025 | Author: Courtenay Brown
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