Target CEO Brian Cornell says shoppers are pulling back, even on groceries, as they feel stressed about their budgets.
"But even in food and beverage categories, over the last few quarters, the units, the number of items they're buying, has been declining," he said in the interview.
With the comments, Target doubled down on a cautious outlook, as it gears up for the crucial holiday season.
During the height of the pandemic, it didn't have enough merchandise because of pandemic-related supply chain bottlenecks.
Over the past few years, Cornell said shoppers have typically sprung for more purchases during "seasonal moments" such as Halloween or Mother's Day — a factor that could help in the coming months.
Persons:
Brian Cornell, CNBC's Becky Quick, Cornell
Organizations:
CNBC, CNBC Evolve