Analyst CornerAnalyst Corner: Middle East Energy Shock—Retail Faces a Deteriorating Context, with John Mercer John Mercer, Head of Global Research and Managing Director of Data-Driven Research April 5, 2026 Reasons to ReadWe discuss updated data points on the impact of the Middle East energy shock, and the implications for US retail. Read this report to discover answers to these and other questions: How are rising gasoline prices affecting US consumer sentiment and spending? How will changes in mortgage rates influence the housing market and big-ticket retail categories? What inflation projections has the Federal Reserve recently made for 2026? What actions can retailers take to navigate cost pressures and changing US consumer behavior? Data in this report include: US gasoline price trends; consumer sentiment measures; mortgage rate data; Federal Reserve inflation projections. Every Analyst Corner also includes a roundup of research and data published that week. Other relevant research: All Analyst Corners Please Login to read the full report. Not a member? To access this content for free, register for a free account. This document was generated for Other research you may be interested in: June 2025 US Retail Sales: Sales Expansion Remains Resilient as Most Sectors Post Positive GrowthMarket Outlook: US Convenience Store Retailing—Charting New Paths Through Structural HeadwindsUS Store Tracker Extra: Store Openings and Closures 2025 Review and 2026 Outlook—Data GraphicRetail 2025: US Macro, Consumer and Retail Outlook
