The Consumer Staples index recently logged it's 4th worst session in history suggesting the narrative on Staples is changing. A stretched consumer and pressure on discretionary sales is prompting some retailers to push back on price increases from staples companies and pushing some consumers to trade down. Bryan joins T.J. Thornton and Consumer Sector Specialist Michael Dick, who is not part of the BofA Global Research department, to discuss how high inflation is impacting consumer packaged goods companies (CPG), whether the Consumer Staples sector can still be considered defensive in this environment and whether this may all contribute to more M&A. Ultimately, Bryan believes staples aren't as well positioned as they've been in the past but pricing tiers and segments will help determine which companies handle this environment best.  You may also enjoy listening to the Merrill Perspectives podcast, featuring conversations on the big stories, news and trends affecting your everyday financial life

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