InflationWeary

People walk stores offering sales at a shopping mall in Santa Anita, California on December 20, 2021.Frederic J. Brown | AFP | Getty ImagesGrocery and energy prices have spiked, and credit card interest rates are climbing, but shoppers can expect some relief as they start holiday shopping.Retailers, desperate to coax inflation-fatigued consumers to spend, are expected to beef up promotions as they struggle to get rid of already-marked-down excess inventory."This will be the year of the perpetual deal for Christmas," said…

Let the battle for the $5 T-shirt begin.Primark, Shein and other budget-friendly retailers are winning over U.S. shoppers with cut-price clothes as high inflation has made many people more price-sensitive. GU (pronounced “G” “U”) earlier this month opened its first U.S. store, selling such items as $30 sweaters and $60 puffer coats. Owned by Japan’s Fast Retailing Co. FRCOY 2.49% , GU offers clothing and accessories about 20% cheaper than those sold by retail-chain…

Big retailers benefited over the past two years from the pandemic rush to buy patio furniture, laptops and home décor, as shoppers were buoyed by savings and government stimulus checks. Now many of those same stores are grappling with a swift reversal of buying behavior, with consumers spending less on goods in favor of services and necessities such as food and fuel. Less than three weeks after reporting a lower-than-expected quarterly profit, Target said Tuesday it has further tempered its profit outlook for the year.…

Kroger Co. and other grocery chains said they are asking brands to prove why higher prices are necessary before accepting them, and warning manufacturers that they will stop carrying products if food companies won’t negotiate prices. Some companies said they are switching to new meat suppliers with cheaper products, and are delaying price changes for items like canned goods. “We don’t just accept cost increases,” said Don Clark, chief merchandising officer of…