Part 4/9:

Historically, rising continued claims have often coincided with shrinking job opportunities across various sectors. This dynamic could lead to a substantial drop in retail sales, much like the patterns seen leading up to the dot-com bubble and the 2008 financial crisis. As unemployment benefits offer less financial relief than regular wages, the purchasing power of consumers dips—prompting a decline in spending just as many retailers begin to scrap for business following a period of post-holiday discounting.