Walmart Emerges as Holiday Retail Winner Amid Consumer Spending Pullback
U.S. shoppers are tightening budgets ahead of the holiday season, with Walmart positioned to benefit from its value-focused proposition. PricewaterhouseCoopers data reveals a projected 5.3% drop in per-person spending—the steepest decline since 2020's pandemic-driven 7.6% contraction.
Consumers cite inflation concerns and trade policy impacts as key deterrents to discretionary purchases. Retailers emphasizing affordability, including Target and Best Buy, may outperform peers during the critical Thanksgiving-Christmas period.