Shoppers might have gotten their holiday bargains a little too early this season, and ETF investors are paying attention.
A new report from Placer.ai reveals that pre-October sales promotions did not bring the holiday foot traffic that stores had anticipated. Walmart Inc (NYSE: WMT), Target Corp (NYSE:TGT), and Kohl’s Corp (NYSE:KSS) all launched holiday campaigns several weeks ahead of the season, but all but Best Buy Co (NYSE:BBY) experienced lower visits compared to last year. That lukewarm reception sets the stage for a problematic situation for retail ETFs entering the 2025 holiday season, one characterized by inflation weariness, tariff concerns, and growing consumer bifurcation.
