President Donald Trump’s inconsistent trade policies have sparked concerns regarding the stability of the US economy. Consequently, stocks heavily dependent on American consumer spending are beginning to suffer. Companies ranging from retailers to airlines and restaurant operators, which rely on discretionary spending, are finding it increasingly challenging, impacting their financial performance. Investors are responding by driving the S&P 500 Consumer Discretionary Index down for a fourth consecutive week. In the past month, this sector has dropped by 15%, nearly double the decline of the broader S&P 500 Index.
