Dollar General misses sales estimates as discretionary spending wanes 

This post was originally published on this site

The discount store chain, like many other U.S. retailers, has seen a slowdown in demand for discretionary products such as houseware and apparel in favor of more need-based consumable goods.

In February, Dollar General forecast annual profit below expectations after cutting its earnings estimate for the holiday quarter on heavy discounts, higher costs and inventory damage due to winter storm Elliott, which hit several U.S. states in December.

On Thursday, the company also reiterated its full-year same-store sales and profit forecasts.

The discount store chain’s same-store sales rose 5.7% in the fourth quarter, compared with analysts’ average estimate of about a 6% increase, according to Refinitiv IBES data.