As the nation's largest retailer, the company is uniquely positioned to offer more clarity about the health of consumers and economic outlook.will report quarterly earnings on Thursday, as investors and economists seek clarity about the health of American households and the outlook for the broader economy.Sign up for NBC Philadelphia's News Headlines newsletter.
Inflation has moderated and returned to historic levels, according to July data from the U.S. Department of Labor. The consumer price index, which measures prices of a broad mix of goods and services,The president of Columbia University has resigned, effective immediatelybut warned of slow sales in the back half of the year and consumer caution, even among its more middle- and upper-income customer base.
Steve Shemesh, a retail analyst at RBC Capital, said he and other investors will be eager to hear if that's still the case.Walmart, with its value reputation and huge grocery business, is typically more resilient than peers in a challenging economy, since customers will turn to its stores to stretch their dollars when times are tight.
"If Walmart beats, your gut would tell you 'OK, Walmart beats. The consumer is fine,' he said. But, he added, the company's strong performance could come from even affluent shoppers becoming more reliant on Walmart for a larger range of goods.