Harry and Meghan, Head and Shoulders. Olay and Enola Holmes. Bounty and Bullet Train.
Two companies in the homes of millions of Americans and people across the globe can be decent gauges for the spending resiliency of consumers, and the ability of firms navigating higher costs themselves.
Three months ago, household goods giant Procter and Gamble reported stronger than expected sales and profits, although it reduced its outlook some due to the strong U.S. dollar pinching overseas sales. The dollar has weakened considerably since last fall, which should bolster P&G’s profits. And about half of the company’s sales comes from outside North America. Selling soap and cleaning supplies may not be as compelling as algorithms and software code, but it can be a steadier business as recession worries continue gathering.
