A retail giant ranks as the country’s second most patriotic brand. Jeep came out on top for the 19th straight year in Brand Keys annual ranking of the 50 brands that consumers believe best embody the value of patriotism. Walmart took the number two spot.
The coronavirus pandemic has finally loosened its grip on retail, and the recovery looks a lot like a return to normalcy. From the initial outbreak through the holiday season, it seemed as if the pandemic had accelerated pre-existing trends in retail, possibly spelling doom for long-struggling sectors.
The effects of the COIVD-19 pandemic impacted restaurant chains throughout the Top 500, from the largest national brands to emerging regional players. In a world turned upside down, survival, not growth, became the priority for many.
The price of lumber, which has ballooned to unprecedented levels in recent months, has started to drop. From a record of $1,711.20 per thousand board feet in early May, lumber futures are now below $1K per thousand board feet for delivery in July.
Households increased spending in May on services that they shunned earlier in the pandemic, helping position the economic recovery for a strong summer as more businesses fully reopen and consumers unleash pent-up demand.
Consumer sentiment rebounded in June to the second-highest level since the start of the pandemic. The University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index rose to 85.5 in June, up from 82.9 in May. The June reading was below the median forecast of 86.5 among economists polled by Reuters.
The FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs Index rose last week, with a total return of 1.7%. Last week’s increase brought year-to-date returns to 22.7%. The increases were broadly based, with nearly all property sectors rising. Health care REITs had the biggest increase with total returns of 4.2%, and several other sectors had weekly returns of 2.0% or higher.
