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: The Middle East Energy Shock and the US Consumer: Lessons from 2022—Sustained Impacts Risk Trickle-Up Effect 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: Analyst Corner: Is Shein’s Fashion Model a Template for Environmental Sustainability? with John MercerEarnings Insights 1Q25, Week 7: Dollar Stores See Growth Amid Tariff Pressures—InfographicEconomic Sentiment Declines Significantly: Weekly US Consumer Sentiment, Week 43, 2025—Data GraphicWeekly UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2025, Week 24: Matalan To Open Stores; Poundland Continues To Shutter Stores
