Good morning, traders. 

It’s shaping up to be one of those weeks.

I’m not talking about earnings season or a surprise Fed announcement. 

I’m talking about a cluster of heavyweight economic reports, all dropping just as markets are already jittery from renewed trade war tension.

Let’s start with the spotlight: Consumer Confidence (spending behavior) and Durable Goods Orders (big-ticket purchases like cars and appliances).

Both hit the tape Tuesday morning.

And these aren’t throwaway metrics. 

They tell us whether businesses and households are tightening the belt or betting on growth.

This data hits just as some of America’s biggest consumer names are flashing warning signs, too.

Here’s what to watch.

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Retail Giants Are Feeling the Pinch

First, let’s look at Walmart. 

It’s long been the barometer for middle-class consumer health, but right now, the world’s biggest retailer is cutting 1,500 corporate jobs. 

You don’t do that when the economy is humming along.

Target slashed its sales outlook, explicitly blaming tariff pressure. 

If trade policy keeps squeezing margins and shoppers get spooked, big box retail will take it on the chin.

Even Apple, the darling of consumers and investors alike, isn’t immune. 

On Friday, President Trump threatened the company with a 25% tariff on all iPhones not made in the U.S. — and we all know how many of those are assembled overseas. 

It’s not just a line item in their earnings report; it’s a real, margin-eating problem.

And if that wasn’t enough, Trump just threatened 50% tariffs on the European Union. 

It’s not campaign trail noise anymore. 

Markets are taking this seriously.

More Data Bombs Coming Thursday

After Tuesday’s market-moving duo, we roll into Thursday’s trifecta:

• Initial Jobless Claims – A forward-looking signal on employment
  
• GDP Revision – The second estimate, which tends to carry more weight
  
• Pending Home Sales – Another gauge of consumer willingness to make big moves

You throw all of that into a week already hot with geopolitical friction, and what you get is volatility. 

And I mean the kind options traders should be licking their chops over.

So, What Should Traders Do?

This isn’t a “wait and see” situation.

This is a load-your-watchlist kind of week. 

Consumer-sensitive names are all in play. 

Semiconductor stocks could get caught in the tariff crossfire too, especially with European tech on the radar. 

And that’s not counting Trump’s curbing of China’s access to advanced semiconductor chips. 

Keep an eye on sector rotation. 

Money may flee discretionary stocks and move into defensives if economic reports disappoint. 

On the flip side, a surprise beat in consumer confidence or GDP could give bulls the ammo they need to rip higher.

The moves will come fast, and the premium will get expensive.

Get your levels set, plan your trades, and don’t get caught chasing after the fact.

I’ll be watching the setups and will break down the best trades once the dust settles. 

But for now, know that this week isn’t one you can afford to coast through.

Stay sharp,
— Jeff Zananiri

And if you really want to stay sharp, join me Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET for a live market briefing on the hidden signal behind Nvidia’s $3 trillion breakout.

Danny Phee, Aaron Hunziker, and I will show you the structural trigger that helped fuel Nvidia’s historic move — and why it’s flashing again right now.

Most traders never spot it. But when a stock hits this zone … it can move fast.

Don’t miss this. Register now.

*Past performance does not indicate future results.