How to make money from US consumers

US

Joanna Faith asks US managers how the spending patterns of constrained consumers are affecting their portfolios.

This year started on a positive note for the US and its 313 million-strong population. Better-than-expected manufacturing indices, payroll numbers and auto sales, as well as signs of stabilisation in the housing market after six years of decline, boosted sentiment and indicated the country was moving, albeit sluggishly, into recovery phase. Such positive sentiment is perhaps nowhere more important than in the US, where the consumer is responsible for a staggering 70% of GDP. In terms of national health, it is a crucial component. Confidence has also been buoyed by falling global energ...