Those high prices we pay at the grocery store due to Bidenflation are affecting the bottom line for consumers. Higher grocery prices mean less money available in family budgets for other shopping. Retailers are slashing their sales predictions this week, sounding an alarm that a downturn is here. This affects all consumers, from upper class shoppers at Nordstrom to middle class shoppers at Macy’s to the most budget-minded shoppers at Dollar General stores.

For example, Macy’s reported same-store sales sank 8.7 percent last quarter in its earnings report Thursday. This forced the department store chain to cut prices on clothes and other discretionary items. Macy’s results show that stubbornly high Bidenflation, especially food prices, is forcing shoppers to cut back on spending for discretionary items like clothing so that they can afford to buy groceries for their families. The average family’s budget can only stretch so far before spending habits change.

Low-income shoppers at Dollar General are forcing the retail chain’s annual sales and profit outlook to take a hit. On Thursday the company, which is the fastest-growing U.S. retail chain by store locations, said its sales growth in groceries and other basic necessities is offset by declines in seasonal, home, and apparel items as Bidenflation creates havoc for low-income shoppers. The company’s stock was down 19.55% on Thursday.

Shoppers alter their buying habits when budgets tighten up. Shoppers may turn to Dollar General or other similar stores that cater to low-income shopper to save some money on grocery purchases but then they aren’t spending on impulse purchases or other non-essentials they may have succumbed to when the economy was better. Shoppers are nervous and the very slow economic progress beginning to be seen in previous months has all but stagnated. People are trying to save their money wherever they can. Who knows what is coming down the road with the inept and incompetent Team Biden in charge of the economy? The news was not good for profits. Net sales were strong but profits were down.

Dollar General’s net sales of $9.3 billion in the first quarter were up 6.8 percent from a year ago, though profits declined 6.9 percent on the year, to $514.4 million.

The budget retailer has expanded rapidly, particularly in rural areas, and as of May 5 operated 19,294 stores in the US under the brands Dollar General, DG Market, DGX and Popshelf.

But the discount store chain now expects fiscal 2023 same-store sales to increase in the range of 1 to 2 percent, compared with its prior growth projection of 3 to 3.5 percent.

Popshelf is a retail chain focused on home goods and targets middle-class women. It is a Dollar General-owned chain. Because of the slowdown in consumer spending, the plans to expand to 1,050 new stores in fiscal 2023 for Dollar General and 150 new Popshelf store are being scaled back. Only 90 new Popshelf stores will be opened and only 990 new store openings are planned for Dollar General brands.

Affluent shoppers are feeling the effects of Bidenflation, too. Nordstrom reported an 11% sales decline on Wednesday, despite posting a surprise profit. Its shoppers are becoming restrained. Now the store is taking a more conservative approach to inventory. ‘They’re pretty resilient, but they’re also cautious,’ Nordstrom CEO Erik Nordstrom told analysts during its earnings call.

When one sector falters, others in the distribution chain falter, too. It’s a domino effect. Stores that are selling less inventory, order less from suppliers. And on it goes down the supply chain line. Thanks, Joe.

Sam’s Club’s upscale big box competitor, Costco, has noticed some changes in customer spending habits, too. Chief Financial Officer Richard Galanti reported that customers are trading down on their meat purchases, moving from beef to poultry and pork in recent months. Some customers are also switching to canned chicken and tuna.

Walmart reported strong sales earlier this month and noted an increase of wealthier shoppers who are moving down to discount chain in search of low prices for grocery purchases.

Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette told analysts on Thursday that sales have weakened. It started in late March and then sales were worse in April. He blames cooler than normal temperatures that made shopping for spring clothing less appealing. And, he blames customers’ concerns about inflation and the headlines about the banking crisis in mid-March. Consumers are putting their money toward food, essentials, and services. Macy’s customers are being more deliberate in how they spend their money, he said. Lower and middle class shoppers, about 50 percent of its customers who have an average household income of $75,000 and under, are curbing their spending habits the most strenuously.

Some items are selling well. It’s not all gloom and doom.

But on the flip side, areas that are less discretionary and less weather-dependent like fragrances, women’s career sportswear and men’s tailored items did well. He also noted a comeback in pandemic-related areas like housewares, which he believes is encouraging.

Consumers are not fooled by Biden’s happy talk about the recovering economy. Interest rates are still too high, especially for first-time home buyers. People are using credit cards to help make ends meet. Energy costs are still too high and America is no longer energy independent. Travel is getting back to pre-pandemic levels but airline tickets are more costly. This is Biden’s America.