Fights in Congress a Distraction from a Bigger Issue in the U.S. Economy

All of this fighting in Congress has taken the spotlight away from what is really important—the third-quarter earnings season.

It’s early on, but we are already seeing some hints that corporate America and the retail sector are not faring as well as we want them to, but this is no surprise, given that gross domestic product (GDP) growth is still muted.

Alcoa Inc. AA managed to beat on revenues and earnings. The provider of aluminum also suggested that the global demand would be in the seven-percent range next year.

Kentucky Fried Chicken (or KFC) and Taco Bell owner YUM! Brands, Inc. YUM was met with a rush to the exits after the company revealed it was short on both revenues and earnings in its latest quarter.

Yet what continues to worry me is the lackluster reporting from the retail sector that indicates a stalling in consumer spending; this is a red flag, considering consumer spending accounts for a large part of the country’s GDP. (See “How Red Flags in the Retail Sector Are Threatening U.S. GDP Growth.”)

Spending on credit cards fell for the third straight month in August—another bad sign, considering financing rates are at relatively low levels in an attempt to spur spending.

In the retail sector, revenues at 10 retailers increased 3.6% in August, based on info from the International Council of Shopping Centers, which is well down from the six-percent rise in August 2012. This is not a surprise, given the economic uncertainties out there and the stale jobs market.

A few weeks ago, bellwether Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. WMT reported softness in its global retail sector. Now Costco Wholesale Corporation COST is reporting a lackluster fiscal fourth quarter in which revenue growth was a muted one percent year-over-year and earnings came in at $0.05 per share below the consensus estimate. Family Dollar Stores, Inc. FDO also joined the pack, reporting flat same store sales in the retail sector.

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