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Christopher Shaker, Partner, Consumer Products Senior Analyst

@ChrisShakerCP

Chris Shaker is a partner in RSM’s Boston office. He serves as a member of both the firm’s national consumer products and retail teams. In January 2018, Chris was selected as a senior analyst in RSM’s cutting-edge Industry Eminence Program to focus on trends impacting the consumer sector.

CHART OF THE DAY: ISM index reaches recent high, boosted by service sector gains

Apr. 5, 2021 by Christopher Shaker

The ISM non-manufacturing index climbed to 63.7% in March, firmly beating analysts' expectations and reaching its highest reading in recent history. The March reading followed February's significant decline, when the ups and downs of the race between the COVID-19 vaccine and new coronavirus variants wreaked havoc on businesses' operations. March's strong ... READ MORE >

Retail sales declined 3% in February, but brighter days are ahead

Mar. 16, 2021 by Seth Bacon and Christopher Shaker

At first glance, the 3% monthly decline in retail sales for February would seem to be a cause for concern. But a look beyond the top-line number reported by the Commerce Department on Tuesday paints a more nuanced picture, one that suggests pent-up consumer demand and the prospect of stronger sales in the future. One reason for the monthly decline was the ... READ MORE >

CHART OF THE DAY: Retail sales surge 5.3% as consumers spend stimulus checks

Feb. 17, 2021 by Seth Bacon and Christopher Shaker

Driven by the latest round of stimulus checks approved in late December, retail sales surged 5.3% in January from a monthly decline of 0.7% in December, the Commerce Department reported on Wednesday. The gains, which smashed economists’ consensus forecast of a 1.1% increase, were particularly strong in e-commerce (11%), furniture (12%) and electronics ... READ MORE >

CHART OF THE DAY: Service sector survey shows strength in January

Feb. 3, 2021 by Christopher Shaker

A measurement of the services side of the economy rose to its highest level since well before the pandemic in January, another indication that the economy is poised for a recovery. The Institute for Supply Management said on Wednesday that its nonmanufacturing purchasing managers’ index came in at 58.7 for the month, up from December’s revised figure of ... READ MORE >

The changing holiday shopping season

Jan. 21, 2021 by Seth Bacon and Christopher Shaker

For many retailers, the recent holiday shopping season was unlike any other as they contended with the disruption of the pandemic and its effect on consumer behavior. The result was a more extended holiday shopping season this year by design. While the Commerce Department’s recent headline figure for retail sales dropped by 0.7% in December compared to ... READ MORE >

CHART OF THE DAY: Holiday sales off to a sluggish start

Dec. 16, 2020 by Christopher Shaker and Seth Bacon

The holiday shopping season was off to a sluggish start in November as retail sales fell 1.1% compared to October, the Commerce Department reported on Wednesday. It was the biggest drop in seven months and well below analysts’ estimates of a modest gain. Retailers were hoping for a strong holiday season to help carry them through to the other side of the ... READ MORE >

CHART OF THE DAY: In the video game industry, it’s the most wonderful time

Nov. 24, 2020 by Seth Bacon and Christopher Shaker

The arrival of the holiday shopping season has buoyed the hopes of retailers catering to a younger crowd, even as coronavirus cases continue to rise. This is especially the case with video games. The Entertainment Software Association, in a survey, found that 38% of people age 18 to 34 play video games on a regular basis. It’s also an ideal activity for ... READ MORE >

CHART OF THE DAY: Retail sales surge, but for how long?

Oct. 16, 2020 by Christopher Shaker

Consumers opened their wallets in September as retail sales showed unexpected strength, rising by 1.9% over August for the fifth straight monthly gain, the Commerce Department reported on Friday. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg had expected a gain of 0.8% after the 0.6% increase in August. But this strength faces headwinds with the critical holiday ... READ MORE >

CHART OF THE DAY: Consumer confidence bounces back

Sep. 29, 2020 by Christopher Shaker

After hitting a six-year low in August, consumer confidence firmly beat expectations and rebounded in September. The Conference Board, a think tank, reported Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose to 101.8 — a jump from 86.3 in August — and surpassed analysts’ forecasts of a slight increase. Confidence was much higher among those earning ... READ MORE >

CHART OF THE DAY: Middle market retailers pay close attention to inflation as pandemic progresses

Sep. 9, 2020 by Christopher Shaker

A simple visual demonstrates a critical truth for middle market consumer products companies that will be even more critical in the wake of the pandemic, particularly if the economy enters a prolonged period of deflation. Costs among the different sectors within the consumer ecosystem can diverge sharply from the overall macroeconomic trend. The retail ... READ MORE >

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About The Real Economy Blog

The Real Economy Blog from RSM US LLP was developed to provide timely economic insights about the middle market economy. It is offered as a complement to RSM’s macroeconomic thought leadership, including The Real Economy monthly publication and the proprietary RSM US Middle Market Business Index (MMBI).

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The Real Economy Blog
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