With the government currently shutdown, investors are struggling to determine the true health of the U.S. economy. Key among the concerns is the strength of the U.S. consumer. As the old saying goes: "how goes the U.S. consumer is how goes the U.S. economy."

• So, have tariffs impacted the price of goods or consumer behavior?
• What is the U.S. consumer buying?
• If the focus on 'need to have' goods and services or 'nice to have'?
• How are companies getting tired consumers to their stores and websites?
• Finally, what impact will AI have on consumer spending in the future?

In this week's Trading Perspectives, Sam Clement and John Norris discuss the current consumer market, and attempt to answer any questions about the strength of the U.S. consumer.