How Inflation is Changing the Way We Shop.

From Marketplace in New York, I'm Kimberly Adams.

This week we got a look at quarterly results from some of the biggest names in food,

offering insight into what spending looks like on the ground and what consumers are actually putting in their carts.

Here to help us dig into those results is Lauren Seidel Baker, economist with ITR

economics. Lauren, good morning. Good morning. So food manufacturer Campbell's reported a 4% decline in

sales in this quarter, citing inflationary pressures and softer demand, smuckers,

dollar general, and five below have all flagged consumer stress in their outlooks.

What are these results telling you about the state of the consumer right now?

Overall, the consumer is still in a stable position, but not nearly as strong as we've seen in

years past. But in some cases, these companies could actually benefit long term if you see a trade down effect. I'm not

buying the brand name. I'm buying either the cheaper brand or maybe the store brand. So it's going to be a

mixed message at this tier in the consumer retail sector. Speaking of tiers, Dollar General reported a rise

in its higher income shoppers.

What does it mean when even discount retailers are pulling in middle and upper middle class shoppers?

That's really the problem. We as consumers don't feel confident. We don't feel good.

We're in a very low, higher, low-fire environment that gives some folks pause. They just want to be a little

bit more conservative these days. Lauren Seidel Baker is an economist with ITR economics. Thank you so much.

Thank you. We've spent this week hearing from rural Alabama communities about their longstanding challenges accessing health care and how they might get worse because of

policy changes from the federal government, namely that big GOP tax and spending law passed last year.

So how are hospitals preparing? We visited University of South Alabama Health in Mobile to get a better

idea. I spoke with Nathan Tudor. He's the regional

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