Americans keep on spending but big retailers doubt it will last

Executives warned that new pressures such as rising interest rates and student-loan repayments could take the wind out of consumers’ sails during the second half. — Bloomberg

AMERICANS are still spending. And the country’s biggest retailers are still warning that the party is at risk of fizzling.

Walmart Inc, Target Corp and Home Depot Inc all topped Wall Street’s profit estimates in their fiscal second quarters, which ended in late July.