Retail Consumer December 21, 2022Real spending in the United States had been climbing since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. But then inflation rose, too, causing consumers to think twice before pulling out their credit cards this holiday season. Now, say senior partner Becca Coggins and coauthors, pessimistic consumer sentiment is among the factors leading to overall growth that is lower than during the prepandemic period. We strive to provide individuals with disabilities equal access to our website. If you would like information about this content we will be happy to work with you. Please email us at: McKinsey_Website_Accessibility@mckinsey.com To read the article, see “Hitting the mark: Why markdowns matter more than ever,” December 2, 2022.