Consumer Spending is on a Slide

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By USDR

The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index (Index) dropped half a point in March, but continues to indicate positive conditions for consumers. The Index tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending[i].

“The outlook for consumer spending remains healthy,” said Daniel Bachman, Deloitte’s senior U.S. economist. “The Index declined primarily due to a slower increase in median home prices. While housing prices are cooling off a bit, possibly due to the weather, there is no indication that the inventory of houses for sale has suddenly picked up.”

The Index, which comprises four components – tax burden, initial unemployment claims, real wages and real home prices – decreased to 3.51 this month from 4.03 last month.

“Although the economy is continuing to improve, retailers should not take their foot off the pedal,” said Alison Paul, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP and Retail & Distribution sector leader. “The month of April has a number of factors that could positively impact sales, from warmer weather conditions to a later Easter holiday and potentially more dollars in the pockets of consumers due to tax refunds. The key will be for retailers to capitalize on these market conditions and leverage its digital channels to influence sales and entice consumers with seasonal offerings in a personalized and moment-appropriate way.”

Highlights of the Index include:

Tax Burden: The tax rate is holding steady for the fourth straight month at 11.8 percent.

Initial Unemployment Claims: Claims declined 4.1 percent from the same period last year, falling to 337,000. However, they rose 1.0 percent increase from the prior months’ claim rate of 334,000.

Real Wages: Real hourly wages continue to show a gradual increase, rising 1.0 percent from this time last year to $8.86.

Real New Home Prices: New home prices climbed slightly from the prior month to $111,000, however over the past 12 months they have risen only 0.8 percent—down from a 5.5% increase in the twelve months to January.

About Deloitte’s Retail & Distribution Practice

Deloitte is a leading presence in the retail and distribution industry, providing audit, consulting, risk management, financial advisory and tax services to more than 80 percent of the Fortune 500 retailers. With more than 1,400 professionals, Deloitte’s retail & distribution practice provides insights, services and solutions assisting retailers across all major subsectors including apparel, grocery, food and drug, wholesale and distribution and online. For more information about Deloitte’s retail & distribution sector, please visit www.deloitte.com/us/retail-distribution.

As used in this document, “Deloitte” means Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

[i] The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index is a proprietary methodology that analyzes economic factors to gauge consumer cash flow as an indicator of future spending. Deloitte’s analysis includes data from the U.S. Commerce Department, Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Labor.