For the first quarter, Target’s comparable sales decreased by 3.8%, reflecting a 5.7% drop in comparable shop sales.

At McDonald’s, even the $5 meals struggled to attract customers. The fast food giant reported a 3.6% drop in US comparable-store salesin the quarter ending March. This is the most significant year-on-year quarterly decline since Covid.

The uncertainty triggered by President Donald Trump’s tariff wars has not only prompted some companies to shelve their spending plans. American consumers are doing the same.

For the moment, Walmart ‘s sales are holding up, with inflationary forecasts. Whether this will also be the case in the second quarter remains to be seen.