1249 ET - Apparel retailers seem to be attracting spending across income levels, with several large retailers calling out strength or even outperformance of lower-income cohorts, William Blair analysts say in a note, pointing to Gap and TJX. "We do not buy into the K-shaped economy narrative, at least as it relates to apparel," the analysts say. Overall, they see consumer spending continuing at healthy levels, with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act potentially giving further support during tax refund season. "Our outlook for the U.S. consumer remains relatively optimistic, with real wage growth and still-low unemployment rates supporting consumption," they say. (kelly.cloonan@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 02, 2026 12:50 ET (17:50 GMT)

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