Fourth-quarter earnings season is set to unfold, and it could be one of the more important ones to watch. It will provide a report card for the year’s final – and typically busiest shopping — quarter, which includes the holiday season. Major retailers have been vocal about shifts in consumer behavior, sounding alarms over a potential downturn. And retail stocks have confirmed this for nearly a year with their sideways movement. In recent months, consumer confidence indices have painted a mixed picture. On one hand, unemployment rates have remained low, and wage growth has been steady, suggesting a resilient economy. On the other,…
