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Stock market today: Dow eyes record on UnitedHealth surge, S&P 500, Nasdaq fall as rate-cut bets cool
US stocks were mixed on Friday as Wall Street tempered its rate-cut hopes amid economic data this week showing higher-than-expected wholesale inflation and a rise in July retail sales. Traders were also awaiting Friday's meeting between President Trump and Vladimir Putin, looking for clues on how the outcome could steer markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose around 0.4%, with the index's first record since December in sight. The benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) fell 0.1%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) lost 0.2% after President Trump said he would soon announce tariffs on semiconductor imports. US Census Bureau data released Friday morning showed retail sales rose 0.5% in July from the prior month. That was less than the 0.6% gain expected by economists, but still viewed as a solid advance after a sharp pullback in consumer spending this spring. Meanwhile, US consumer sentiment deteriorated in August, falling for the first time in four months as inflation expectations jumped in the longer-term. On Thursday, stocks had wobbled, ending a two-day rally sparked by investor confidence that an interest rate cut in September was nearly certain. Doubts about a significant cut at the Fed's next policy meeting crept in after July's Producer Price Index (PPI) came in hotter than expected. Major Dow component UnitedHealth (UNH) stock soared on Friday after a regulatory filing showed Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B, BRK-A) bought 5 million shares in the company. Intel (INTC) shares jumped Friday after a Bloomberg report said the Trump administration is considering taking a stake in chipmaker, using funds from the US CHIPS Act. President Trump met with Intel's CEO on Monday after calling on him to resign the previous week. And Applied Materials (AMAT) stock sank 14% after the chip equipment maker issued weak fourth-quarter forecasts due to sluggish demand in China, fueling concerns over tariff-related risks. Chip stocks fall as Trump says semiconductor tariffs coming as soon as next week Chip stocks dropped Friday after President Trump said he will set tariffs on semiconductors as soon as next week. "I'll be setting tariffs next week and the week after on steel and on, I would say, chips," Trump told reporters Friday while aboard Air Force One while traveling to Alaska to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported. Nvidia (NVDA), AMD (AMD) and Broadcom (AVGO) fell more than 1%, while Micron (MU) dropped more than 3%. Trump said earlier this month that semiconductor companies building out their domestic manufacturing footprint — this includes the world's leading contract chip manufacturer, Taiwanese firm TSMC (TSM) — would be exempt from his planned 100% tariffs on chips, commentary that sent chip stocks up. But Friday he implied that exemption may only be temporary. "I'm going to have a rate that is going to be lower at the beginning - that gives them a chance to come in and build - and very high after a certain period of time," he said. Consumer sentiment falls in August, marking first decline in 4 months US consumer sentiment deteriorated in August, falling for the first time in four months. The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 58.6 last month from a reading of 61.7 in July. It was also less than the 62 reading expected by economists surveyed by Bloomberg. 'This deterioration largely stems from rising worries about inflation,' wrote Joanne Hsu, the director of the university's Surveys of Consumers. Consumer sentiment had improved in June and July after plummeting in the spring as Americans worried about the impacts of Trump's tariffs. In May, the index showed sentiment at its second-lowest level on record as consumers expressed concerns over long-term inflation, fueled by uncertainty surrounding Trump's trade policies. Sentiment improved in June as Trump dialed back some of his aggressive stances on tariffs. 'Overall, consumers are no longer bracing for the worst-case scenario for the economy feared in April when reciprocal tariffs were announced and then paused,' Hsu said. 'However, consumers continue to expect both inflation and unemployment to deteriorate in the future.' US stocks mixed at the open US stocks were mixed on Friday at the open as Wall Street tempered its hopes for the Fed to cut interest rates in September, as economic data this week showed higher than expected wholesale inflation and a rise in July retail sales. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose around 0.5%, putting the index on track for its first record since December. The benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose less than 0.1%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell below the flatline. Intel stock continues rise as Trump administration reportedly mulls taking stake in chipmaker Intel (INTC) stock spiked more than 7% Thursday and continued to climb 3% before the market open on Friday, following a report that the US government is considering taking a stake in the troubled chipmaker. Bloomberg reported that the Trump administration is in talks with Intel about the deal, which would help the company complete its Ohio factory expansion that had been put on hold. The report follows a meeting between President Trump and Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan earlier this week, which came after the president called for the CEO's resignation due to his ties with China. "As Intel's prospects have dimmed, the idea of support (governmental or otherwise) has gained traction, understandable given the company, for better or worse, remains the only US-headquartered prospect for leading edge semiconductor chips and processes; it seems like Trump may have been persuaded to see the light," Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon wrote in a note to investors Friday. It's not the first time the Trump administration has allegedly floated ideas to prop up Intel. In February, a news report said the US was pitching proposals to its rival TSMC to help support its turnaround by establishing a joint venture with Intel. Read more here. Retail sales climb less than expected in July Retail sales rose 0.5% in July from the prior month, according to data from the US Census Bureau released Friday — marking the second monthly gain in a row, as consumer spending steadies following a dramatic drop in earlier in the year. Still, the jump was less than the 0.6% gain expected by economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Excluding auto and gas sales, retail sales were up 0.2%, also less than the 0.3% projected. An even narrower slice of retail sales called the 'control group' — a more precise measure of consumer spending that excludes certain sales such as those from office supply and tobacco stores — climbed 0.5%, ahead of the 0.4% expected. Retail sales rebounded in June, a sign that consumer spending habits were remaining resilient despite President Trump's tariffs. Read more here. Investors want rate cut 'validation,' but the Fed's dilemma won't go away Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban writes in today's Morning Brief: Read more here. Good morning. Here's what's happening today. Economic data: Retail sales (July); Export prices (July); Industrial production (July); University of Michigan consumer sentiment (August preliminary) Earnings: No notable earnings. Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: 'Striking while the iron is hot' Investors want rate cut 'validation,' but the Fed's dilemma remains Applied Materials' shares sink on weak China demand, tariff risks UnitedHealth jumps as Buffett's Berkshire buys 5M shares BofA's Hartnett sees profit-taking in stocks after Jackson Hole AI exacerbates tech divide with smaller stocks languishing A trader's guide to the Alaska talks between Trump and Putin China's economy slows in July on tariffs, weak property market Applied Materials' shares sink on weak China demand, tariff risks Shares in Applied Materials (AMAT) sank 14% before the bell on Friday after the chip equipment maker issued weak fourth-quarter forecasts on sluggish China demand, fueling concerns over tariff-related risks. Reuters reports: Read more here. UnitedHealth stock soars as Buffett's Berkshire buys 5M shares UnitedHealth Group stock rose 12% before the bell on Friday after Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B, BRK-A) acquired 5 million shares in the company. A regulatory filing showed the purchase on Thursday. Reuters reports: Read more here. Chip stocks fall as Trump says semiconductor tariffs coming as soon as next week Chip stocks dropped Friday after President Trump said he will set tariffs on semiconductors as soon as next week. "I'll be setting tariffs next week and the week after on steel and on, I would say, chips," Trump told reporters Friday while aboard Air Force One while traveling to Alaska to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported. Nvidia (NVDA), AMD (AMD) and Broadcom (AVGO) fell more than 1%, while Micron (MU) dropped more than 3%. Trump said earlier this month that semiconductor companies building out their domestic manufacturing footprint — this includes the world's leading contract chip manufacturer, Taiwanese firm TSMC (TSM) — would be exempt from his planned 100% tariffs on chips, commentary that sent chip stocks up. But Friday he implied that exemption may only be temporary. "I'm going to have a rate that is going to be lower at the beginning - that gives them a chance to come in and build - and very high after a certain period of time," he said. Chip stocks dropped Friday after President Trump said he will set tariffs on semiconductors as soon as next week. "I'll be setting tariffs next week and the week after on steel and on, I would say, chips," Trump told reporters Friday while aboard Air Force One while traveling to Alaska to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported. Nvidia (NVDA), AMD (AMD) and Broadcom (AVGO) fell more than 1%, while Micron (MU) dropped more than 3%. Trump said earlier this month that semiconductor companies building out their domestic manufacturing footprint — this includes the world's leading contract chip manufacturer, Taiwanese firm TSMC (TSM) — would be exempt from his planned 100% tariffs on chips, commentary that sent chip stocks up. But Friday he implied that exemption may only be temporary. "I'm going to have a rate that is going to be lower at the beginning - that gives them a chance to come in and build - and very high after a certain period of time," he said. Consumer sentiment falls in August, marking first decline in 4 months US consumer sentiment deteriorated in August, falling for the first time in four months. The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 58.6 last month from a reading of 61.7 in July. It was also less than the 62 reading expected by economists surveyed by Bloomberg. 'This deterioration largely stems from rising worries about inflation,' wrote Joanne Hsu, the director of the university's Surveys of Consumers. Consumer sentiment had improved in June and July after plummeting in the spring as Americans worried about the impacts of Trump's tariffs. In May, the index showed sentiment at its second-lowest level on record as consumers expressed concerns over long-term inflation, fueled by uncertainty surrounding Trump's trade policies. Sentiment improved in June as Trump dialed back some of his aggressive stances on tariffs. 'Overall, consumers are no longer bracing for the worst-case scenario for the economy feared in April when reciprocal tariffs were announced and then paused,' Hsu said. 'However, consumers continue to expect both inflation and unemployment to deteriorate in the future.' US consumer sentiment deteriorated in August, falling for the first time in four months. The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 58.6 last month from a reading of 61.7 in July. It was also less than the 62 reading expected by economists surveyed by Bloomberg. 'This deterioration largely stems from rising worries about inflation,' wrote Joanne Hsu, the director of the university's Surveys of Consumers. Consumer sentiment had improved in June and July after plummeting in the spring as Americans worried about the impacts of Trump's tariffs. In May, the index showed sentiment at its second-lowest level on record as consumers expressed concerns over long-term inflation, fueled by uncertainty surrounding Trump's trade policies. Sentiment improved in June as Trump dialed back some of his aggressive stances on tariffs. 'Overall, consumers are no longer bracing for the worst-case scenario for the economy feared in April when reciprocal tariffs were announced and then paused,' Hsu said. 'However, consumers continue to expect both inflation and unemployment to deteriorate in the future.' US stocks mixed at the open US stocks were mixed on Friday at the open as Wall Street tempered its hopes for the Fed to cut interest rates in September, as economic data this week showed higher than expected wholesale inflation and a rise in July retail sales. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose around 0.5%, putting the index on track for its first record since December. The benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose less than 0.1%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell below the flatline. US stocks were mixed on Friday at the open as Wall Street tempered its hopes for the Fed to cut interest rates in September, as economic data this week showed higher than expected wholesale inflation and a rise in July retail sales. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose around 0.5%, putting the index on track for its first record since December. The benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose less than 0.1%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell below the flatline. Intel stock continues rise as Trump administration reportedly mulls taking stake in chipmaker Intel (INTC) stock spiked more than 7% Thursday and continued to climb 3% before the market open on Friday, following a report that the US government is considering taking a stake in the troubled chipmaker. Bloomberg reported that the Trump administration is in talks with Intel about the deal, which would help the company complete its Ohio factory expansion that had been put on hold. The report follows a meeting between President Trump and Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan earlier this week, which came after the president called for the CEO's resignation due to his ties with China. "As Intel's prospects have dimmed, the idea of support (governmental or otherwise) has gained traction, understandable given the company, for better or worse, remains the only US-headquartered prospect for leading edge semiconductor chips and processes; it seems like Trump may have been persuaded to see the light," Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon wrote in a note to investors Friday. It's not the first time the Trump administration has allegedly floated ideas to prop up Intel. In February, a news report said the US was pitching proposals to its rival TSMC to help support its turnaround by establishing a joint venture with Intel. Read more here. Intel (INTC) stock spiked more than 7% Thursday and continued to climb 3% before the market open on Friday, following a report that the US government is considering taking a stake in the troubled chipmaker. Bloomberg reported that the Trump administration is in talks with Intel about the deal, which would help the company complete its Ohio factory expansion that had been put on hold. The report follows a meeting between President Trump and Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan earlier this week, which came after the president called for the CEO's resignation due to his ties with China. "As Intel's prospects have dimmed, the idea of support (governmental or otherwise) has gained traction, understandable given the company, for better or worse, remains the only US-headquartered prospect for leading edge semiconductor chips and processes; it seems like Trump may have been persuaded to see the light," Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon wrote in a note to investors Friday. It's not the first time the Trump administration has allegedly floated ideas to prop up Intel. In February, a news report said the US was pitching proposals to its rival TSMC to help support its turnaround by establishing a joint venture with Intel. Read more here. Retail sales climb less than expected in July Retail sales rose 0.5% in July from the prior month, according to data from the US Census Bureau released Friday — marking the second monthly gain in a row, as consumer spending steadies following a dramatic drop in earlier in the year. Still, the jump was less than the 0.6% gain expected by economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Excluding auto and gas sales, retail sales were up 0.2%, also less than the 0.3% projected. An even narrower slice of retail sales called the 'control group' — a more precise measure of consumer spending that excludes certain sales such as those from office supply and tobacco stores — climbed 0.5%, ahead of the 0.4% expected. Retail sales rebounded in June, a sign that consumer spending habits were remaining resilient despite President Trump's tariffs. Read more here. Retail sales rose 0.5% in July from the prior month, according to data from the US Census Bureau released Friday — marking the second monthly gain in a row, as consumer spending steadies following a dramatic drop in earlier in the year. Still, the jump was less than the 0.6% gain expected by economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Excluding auto and gas sales, retail sales were up 0.2%, also less than the 0.3% projected. An even narrower slice of retail sales called the 'control group' — a more precise measure of consumer spending that excludes certain sales such as those from office supply and tobacco stores — climbed 0.5%, ahead of the 0.4% expected. Retail sales rebounded in June, a sign that consumer spending habits were remaining resilient despite President Trump's tariffs. Read more here. Investors want rate cut 'validation,' but the Fed's dilemma won't go away Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban writes in today's Morning Brief: Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban writes in today's Morning Brief: Read more here. Good morning. Here's what's happening today. Economic data: Retail sales (July); Export prices (July); Industrial production (July); University of Michigan consumer sentiment (August preliminary) Earnings: No notable earnings. Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: 'Striking while the iron is hot' Investors want rate cut 'validation,' but the Fed's dilemma remains Applied Materials' shares sink on weak China demand, tariff risks UnitedHealth jumps as Buffett's Berkshire buys 5M shares BofA's Hartnett sees profit-taking in stocks after Jackson Hole AI exacerbates tech divide with smaller stocks languishing A trader's guide to the Alaska talks between Trump and Putin China's economy slows in July on tariffs, weak property market Economic data: Retail sales (July); Export prices (July); Industrial production (July); University of Michigan consumer sentiment (August preliminary) Earnings: No notable earnings. Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: 'Striking while the iron is hot' Investors want rate cut 'validation,' but the Fed's dilemma remains Applied Materials' shares sink on weak China demand, tariff risks UnitedHealth jumps as Buffett's Berkshire buys 5M shares BofA's Hartnett sees profit-taking in stocks after Jackson Hole AI exacerbates tech divide with smaller stocks languishing A trader's guide to the Alaska talks between Trump and Putin China's economy slows in July on tariffs, weak property market Applied Materials' shares sink on weak China demand, tariff risks Shares in Applied Materials (AMAT) sank 14% before the bell on Friday after the chip equipment maker issued weak fourth-quarter forecasts on sluggish China demand, fueling concerns over tariff-related risks. Reuters reports: Read more here. Shares in Applied Materials (AMAT) sank 14% before the bell on Friday after the chip equipment maker issued weak fourth-quarter forecasts on sluggish China demand, fueling concerns over tariff-related risks. Reuters reports: Read more here. UnitedHealth stock soars as Buffett's Berkshire buys 5M shares UnitedHealth Group stock rose 12% before the bell on Friday after Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B, BRK-A) acquired 5 million shares in the company. A regulatory filing showed the purchase on Thursday. Reuters reports: Read more here. UnitedHealth Group stock rose 12% before the bell on Friday after Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B, BRK-A) acquired 5 million shares in the company. A regulatory filing showed the purchase on Thursday. Reuters reports: Read more here. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
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UK patients rush for obesity jab before Eli Lilly raises price 170% to appease Donald Trump
Patients are racing to secure the weight loss drug Mounjaro ahead of a price rise of up to 170 per cent in the UK, as drugmaker Eli Lilly
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A Nuclear Energy Stock Worth Watching
Key Points Nuclear energy is clean, and gaining in popularity. Constellation Energy has agreements with Microsoft and Meta Platforms. 10 stocks we like better than Constellation Energy › The Trump administration has plans to put a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030. It's far from clear if that will actually happen in just five years -- or ever. But back on Earth, nuclear power is enjoying a renaissance that should cause investors to look twice. The global quest to refocus on nuclear energy is being driven by several distinct factors. The world needs more (clean) power First, worldwide demand for power is projected to soar in coming years -- as much as 18% by 2050, according to McKinsey -- due to the emergence of power-hungry data centers and artificial intelligence projects, as well as the adoption of electric vehicles and the ongoing electrification of emerging market countries, among other factors. Goldman Sachs estimates power consumption from AI data centers alone will rise 50% by 2027 and 165% by the end of this decade. Recall Microsoft's 2024 deal to power data centers by restarting one of the reactors at Three Mile Island that was shut down for economic reasons in 2019 (I'll get to the owner of that plant in just a moment). In addition, countries are scrambling for power sources that don't worsen global warming, and nuclear energy is among the lowest carbon-emitting energy sources available. Finally, nuclear has undergone a technological revolution in recent years with the emergence of so-called small modular reactors that are more easily and rapidly constructed and transported. They're also much less financially risky to build. For all of those reasons, opposition to nuclear has mostly evaporated among important gatekeepers like the World Bank and the European Union that were once, well, lukewarm to the prospect of more plants. And some countries are going all in. This past May, President Trump announced four executive orders designed to reinvigorate America's nuclear energy industry. The real proof of nuclear's rebirth, however, is in the rush to build new plants. There are roughly 70 nuclear facilities under construction across the world, according to the World Nuclear Association. And world nuclear capacity is projected to increase by 2.5 times by 2050, says the International Atomic Energy Agency. Constellation is signing agreements The biggest nuclear provider in the U.S. -- by a long shot -- is Constellation Energy (NASDAQ: CEG), a Baltimore-based power utility. The company generates power through hydro, wind, natural gas and solar facilities, but its biggest source is nuclear, which accounts for about 86% of its output. It currently operates 21 nuclear reactors at 16 facilities (there are 54 total commercial nuclear plants in the U.S. at present). Constellation is projected to produce 95% of its energy carbon free by 2030 and 100% a decade later. Constellation owns the Pennsylvania nuclear plant formerly known as Three Mile Island -- the one that will power Microsoft data centers and is now called Crane Clean Energy Center. A bit of context and history: The 20-year agreement with Microsoft paved the way to restart Three Mile Island Unit 1, which "operated at industry-leading levels of safety and reliability for decades before being shut down for economic reasons" in 2019, according to Constellation. In 1979, there was a partial nuclear meltdown of the Unit 2 reactor at the Three Mile Island facility. "This was the most serious accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant operating history, although its small radioactive releases had no detectable health effects on plant workers or the public," according to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Unit 2 is permanently shut down. Constellation also recently agreed to provide 20 years of power from an Illinois nuclear plant to support the data centers of Facebook parent Meta Platforms. The stock is worth a look Constellation reported second-quarter results last week and both earnings and revenue beat Wall Street's expectations. Earnings of $1.91 per share were 13% higher than a year ago. Revenue jumped 11.4% to $6.1 billion. The power company also announced a 94% capacity rate for its reactors -- the amount of time they operate at maximum power output -- which is among the highest in the industry. And management is determined to support the stock. It just repurchased $400 million worth of shares. The stock is up 46% year to date as of market close on Thursday and 75% over the past 52 weeks. Constellation's market cap is about $106 billion and its price-to-earnings ratio is around 34. Yes, that P/E ratio is a bit high for a power utility. But consider what you're getting as an investor: a power company that has basically transcended its category. Constellation is increasingly viewed not as a boring utility, but instead as an AI-adjacent stock because of its deals to provide clean nuclear energy to AI-centric companies like those in the "Magnificent Seven." Nuclear energy is hotter than ever, and now is the time to own a piece of it. Constellation Energy is worth a look. Should you invest $1,000 in Constellation Energy right now? Before you buy stock in Constellation Energy, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Constellation Energy wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $663,630!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,115,695!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,071% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 185% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of August 13, 2025 Matthew Benjamin has no position in the stocks mentioned in this article. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Constellation Energy, Goldman Sachs Group, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. A Nuclear Energy Stock Worth Watching was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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Shrugging Off Tariffs, Car Buyers Drive July Retail Sales
Key Takeaways U.S. retail sales increased by 0.5% in July, aligning with economists' expectations. July's figures represent a slowdown from June spending levels, which were revised higher in this month's report. Auto dealers and online retailers saw some of the most significant increases in July, while spending at restaurants and bars dipped. Consumer spending slowed down slightly in July, but the data showed that people are still making automobile purchases and shopping online even amid tariff pressures. 'Consumers maintain a moderate rate of spending and even picked up the pace in the past two months as the tariff-price pass-through has been limited thus far,' wrote Nationwide Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic. Census Bureau data showed that July retail sales were $726.3 billion, a 0.5% increase from the prior month. This was a slowdown from the June data, which was revised higher to show a 0.9% increase, but it was in line with economists' projections. 'The solid increase in retail sales in July and upward revisions to past months indicate consumers are down but not out this year,' wrote Michael Pearce, deputy chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics. Car Sales, Prime Day Help Drive July Increases Auto dealers saw a 1.6% increase in sales, while furniture retailers saw sales similarly higher. This comes as some economists are watching for tariff impacts on car sales and companies report lower furniture demand. 'After tariff distortions to auto purchases earlier in the year, consumers have returned to auto showrooms ready to buy,' wrote Bostjancic in a commentary. A 0.8% increase in nonstore retailer sales includes results from e-commerce firms like Amazon, which held its annual Prime Day sales event in July. Miscellaneous store retailers showed the steepest decline in sales, while the restaurant and bar sales, a measure of discretionary spending, also ticked lower. The data also detailed stronger retail sales results from June, which reflected a bounce back in spending after sales dropped in May. Economists closely follow retail sales as a measure of consumer spending because it makes up about two-thirds of U.S. economic activity. 'In a world where there are plenty of macro-related worries tied to inflation and employment, consumers are still out there spending,' said Bret Kenwell, eToro U.S. investment analyst. 'Retailers will start reporting earnings next week, which should provide more insights into consumer behavior.' Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT) and Home Depot (HD) are among a string of retailers on next week's corporate earnings calendar. Read the original article on Investopedia Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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Fixed Price Contracts Dominate, Offering Stability in Catering Agreements
Key market opportunities in the global contract catering sector include capitalizing on evolving consumer preferences for healthier, diverse options, leveraging the outsourcing trend for operational efficiency, emphasizing sustainability, and integrating technological advancements. Europe dominates, driven by workplace well-being and stringent regulations. Contract Catering Market Dublin, Aug. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Contract Catering Market Report by Contract Type, and Region 2025-2033" has been added to offering. The global contract catering market is poised for substantial growth, with its size projected to rise from USD 269.0 billion in 2024 to USD 392.1 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 4.3% from 2025 to 2033. Key factors fueling this growth include a shift towards healthier food preferences, increased outsourcing of food services for operational efficiency, emphasis on sustainability, technological advancements, and stringent regulatory environments. Contract catering, defined by its contractual agreements, offers diverse food services to various sectors including corporate offices, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities. These arrangements enable seamless integration into client operations, offering benefits such as economies of scale, varied menu options, and adherence to quality standards. Service types range from onsite cafeterias to specialized event catering. Evolving Consumer Preferences: The increasing demand for healthier and diverse food options has driven catering companies to expand their offerings. Consumers now require plant-based, organic, and allergen-free choices, alongside transparency in sourcing. This trend enhances customer experience and provides a competitive advantage to catering companies that can adapt to these demands. Outsourcing for Operational Efficiency: Outsourcing food services has emerged as a major market driver, allowing businesses to streamline operations and cut costs while ensuring high-quality food services. This is particularly preferred in sectors like healthcare and education aiming for nutritious meal delivery alongside resource optimization. Catering companies demonstrating operational expertise stand to benefit significantly from this trend. Sustainability and Responsible Sourcing: The focus on environmentally friendly practices and ethical sourcing is transforming the market. Catering providers are expected to source locally, minimize waste, and use eco-friendly packaging. This commitment to sustainability not only attracts eco-conscious clients but also enhances the company's reputation and compliance with broad sustainability goals. The market segmentation includes contract types (fixed price, cost plus), mode of contract (outsourced, self-operated), and end user segments (business and industry, education, healthcare, and others). Fixed price contracts and outsourced modes dominate the market due to their predictability, trust-building capabilities, and operational efficiencies. Business and industry sectors represent the largest market share, driven by the need for efficient food solutions in corporate environments and the growing importance of employee well-being and engagement. Regionally, Europe leads the contract catering market due to its rich culinary heritage, focus on employee satisfaction, and stringent food safety regulations. The emphasis on sustainability further drives this regional dominance. The competitive landscape is vibrant, with major players like ABM Catering Solutions, Aramark, and Sodexo leading the charge. Companies are leveraging diverse menus, innovative technology, and a commitment to sustainability to stay competitive. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 140 Forecast Period 2024 - 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $269 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $392.1 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.3% Regions Covered Global Companies Featured ABM Catering Solutions Amadeus Aramark Atalian Servest Barlett Mitchell Blue Apple Catering Camst Group Caterleisure Ltd. CH&CO Catering Compass Group PLC Dine Contract Catering Elior Group Fazer Food Services Interserve OCS Group Ltd. Sodexo For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Contract Catering Market CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
