Consumer Cos Up as Traders Shrug Off Fuel Fears - Consumer Roundup

Consumer companies rose as traders shrugged off rising fuel prices and mixed earnings data.

LVMH, the owner of luxury brands including Louis Vuitton generated first-quarter revenue of $22.42 billion, up slightly on an organic basis from a year earlier, but below Wall Street targets. That cast some doubt on the sustainability of the "k-shaped recovery," the increases in consumer spending in recent years driven almost exclusively by upper-income shoppers.

"Even if gas prices went up substantially, if you're on the upper side of the k-shaped recovery...I don't think higher fuel costs are going to dampen the upper end of the k," said J.D. Joyce, president of Houston financial advisory Joyce Wealth Management.

Sales of used homes fell in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.98 million, the lowest level since June 2025, the National Association of Realtors said.

Food processor Conagra Brands is hiring veteran consumer-products executive John Brase as its next chief executive, turning to an outsider as the food company navigates challenges including pressured consumers, rising inflation and changing habits tied to weight-loss drugs.

McDonald's is set to offer a Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer as part of a broader overhaul of its menu of cold drinks at its U.S. restaurants later this year.

The Texas attorney general is investigating Lululemon Athletica for allegedly using forever chemicals in its workout gear, a practice the company said it stopped two years ago.

Write to Rob Curran at rob.curran@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 13, 2026 17:17 ET (21:17 GMT)