- Cowen analyst John Kernan has some tough words for retail executives after hearing a litany of excuses on earnings conference calls about the "challenging" environment.
- "Every metric related to the consumer is healthier now than it was the past couple years," says Kernan. "The consumer is in a very good position right now," he adds.
- Low gas prices, low unemployment rates and some wage gains have set the table for growth, but a decline in consumer confidence (political anxiety?) has sent even more shoppers to online channels or kept them in a stay-at-home mindset (see restaurant sector woes).
- A question left unanswered is if the shift is transitory in nature or permanent An even bigger uncertainty is what happens to brick-and-mortar retailers if the U.S. economy were to enter a recession?
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