Best Buy Co.’s stock fell 8% Thursday after the electronics retailer cut its full-year profit guidance due to the impact of tariffs, as consumers weigh the effects of inflation against purchases of bigger-ticket items such as home-theater systems.

Wall Street inched toward tiny losses early Friday as markets digested a the government’s latest inflation data.

U.S. consumer spending increased marginally in April, with households opting to boost savings amid mounting economic uncertainty because of a constantly changing tariff landscape.

The Federal Reserve has put interest rate cuts on hold until it has more clarity about President Trump’s policies.

Retailers are trying to navigate their way through economic uncertainty in 2025. Tariffs, inflation and lingering fears of a recession have left many Americans uneasy and pulling back on spending. Because consumer spending accounts for about 70% of U.S. economic activity, a retreat would heighten the odds of contraction for the U.S. economy.

Global retailers including sandal maker Birkenstock and jeweller Pandora are looking at spreading the cost of U.S. tariffs by raising prices across markets to avoid big hikes in the United States that could hurt sales.

Department store chains have consistently lost market share, and competition will likely intensify this year with inflation expected to jump.

Ross Stores' Q1 earnings show flat sales and lower profits. CEO warns of price hikes and changing consumer spending due to tariffs and inflation.

Amid inflation and import taxes, Nike will raise prices on footwear, while other select items will be exempt from the increases.

TOKYO – Japan paused its sale of rice reserves after seeing a fast response from retailers, in a positive sign for the government’s efforts to temper soaring rice prices and ease consumers’ cost-of-living concerns ahead of an election this summer.

Q1 2025 Management View CEO Michael O’Sullivan opened by noting, "Total sales grew by 6% on top of 11% growth last year. Meanwhile, our comp sales were flat on top of 2% comp growth last year. Both metrics were at the midpoint of our guidance.