Geopolitics Alpha

Consumers are spending more, but they’re not getting their money’s worth due to inflation

Published . Updated .

GEOPOLITICS ALPHAConsumers are spending more, butthey’re not getting their money’sworth due to inflationGEOPOLITICS ALPHA

Consumer spending rose sharply in September, but it largely reflected households spending more on gas and transportation after an increase in energy costs.

Directly affected

  • No company is named in this report.

Indirectly affected

  • XRT SPDR S&P Retail ETF

    SPDR S&P Retail ETF: it holds retailers. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story.

  • XLY Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR+2.2% 19d

    Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR: it holds retailers. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story.

  • TIP iShares TIPS Bond ETF-0.5% 30d

    iShares TIPS Bond ETF: it is a common hedge when prices rise. Linked by “inflation” (inflation and prices) in this story.

  • USO United States Oil Fund+7.3% 30d

    United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “energy costs” (oil) in this story.

  • WMT Walmart+11.3% 30d

    Walmart (variety stores): retailers move with shopper spending and import costs. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story.

  • AMZN Amazon.com+1.4% 30d

    Amazon.com (catalog and mail-order houses): retailers move with shopper spending and import costs. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story.

  • COST Costco Wholesale+9.9% 30d

    Costco Wholesale (variety stores): retailers move with shopper spending and import costs. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story.

  • TGT Target-6.1% 30d

    Target (variety stores): retailers move with shopper spending and import costs. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story.

Price reaction, T-5 to T+3

TickerT-5T-3T-1T0T+1T+2T+3
XRTNo price data for this ticker———————
XLYNo price data for this ticker———————
TIPNo price data for this ticker———————
USONo price data for this ticker———————
WMTNo price data for this ticker———————
AMZNNo price data for this ticker———————
COSTNo price data for this ticker———————
TGTNo price data for this ticker———————

Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.

Market Call

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Consumer spending rose sharply in September, but it largely reflected households spending more on gas and transportation after an increase in energy costs.

Source: MarketWatch

Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story

Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).

Who gains and who loses around Spdr Series Trust (XRT)

Companies carried with this story

  • XRT Spdr Series Trust

    In “Consumers are spending more, but they’re not getting their money’s worth due to inflation,” Spdr Series Trust (XRT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: SPDR S&P Retail ETF: it holds retailers. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story

  • XLY Select Sector Spdr Tr

    In “Consumers are spending more, but they’re not getting their money’s worth due to inflation,” Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLY) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR: it holds retailers. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story

  • TIP Ishares Tr

    For “Consumers are spending more, but they’re not getting their money’s worth due to inflation,” Ishares Tr (TIP) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: iShares TIPS Bond ETF: it is a common hedge when prices rise. Linked by “inflation” (inflation and prices) in this story

  • WMT Walmart

    For “Consumers are spending more, but they’re not getting their money’s worth due to inflation,” Walmart (WMT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Walmart (variety stores): retailers move with shopper spending and import costs. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story

  • AMZN Amazon Com

    For “Consumers are spending more, but they’re not getting their money’s worth due to inflation,” Amazon Com (AMZN) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Amazon.com (catalog and mail-order houses): retailers move with shopper spending and import costs. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story

  • COST Costco Wholesale

    In “Consumers are spending more, but they’re not getting their money’s worth due to inflation,” Costco Wholesale (COST) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Costco Wholesale (variety stores): retailers move with shopper spending and import costs. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story

  • TGT Target

    For “Consumers are spending more, but they’re not getting their money’s worth due to inflation,” Target (TGT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Target (variety stores): retailers move with shopper spending and import costs. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story

  • PG Procter & Gamble

    Procter & Gamble (PG) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 29 Oct 2026 story “Consumers are spending more, but they’re not getting their money’s worth due to inflation.” Reason on file: The Procter & Gamble (soap, detergents, cleang preparations, perfumes, cosmetics): big consumer-goods sellers feel price rises in costs and shopper demand. Linked by “inflation” (inflation and prices) in this story

Spdr Series Trust (XRT)

Spdr Series Trust (XRT) is the company in “Consumers are spending more, but they’re not getting their money’s worth due to inflation,” the 29 Oct 2026 this story story.

What ties Spdr Series Trust (XRT) to the headline is this: SPDR S&P Retail ETF: it holds retailers. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story

Also listed, Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLY): Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR: it holds retailers. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story

The price range for Spdr Series Trust (XRT), and the dates in the story

TIP traded between 103.77 and 105.67 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 105.27. XLY traded between 110.56 and 116.21 across 18 sessions. The latest close on file is 115.31. XRT traded between 83.12 and 85.33 across 1 sessions. The latest close on file is 83.23.

A simple score for Spdr Series Trust (XRT)

54 out of 100

“Consumers are spending more, but they’re not getting their money’s worth due to inflation” scores 54 out of 100. The score uses 2 sources, and 8 linked companies.