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In 2024, we are in the era of epic games like Elden Ring, God Of War, Ghost of Tsushima, and so on. These story-rich, graphic-heavy games have the power to take us to worlds beyond our imagination, promising an experience worth remembering. Last month, another game joined this list - <keyword id="22855845" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Black-Myth-WuKong" source="keywords">Black Myth: WuKong</keyword>. If you’ve ever dreamed of entering a mythical world where graphics push the boundaries of reality, this is just the adventure you’re looking for. To truly appreciate the game’s potential, I tested it on the <keyword id="21425999" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Alienware-X16-R2" source="keywords">Alienware X16 R2</keyword> powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU and Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4090 GPU. Thus, armed with the power of <keyword id="20659771" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Alienware" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Alienware" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Alienware">Alienware</keyword>'s flagship gaming laptop, I dove deep into this action-packed universe, tweaking various settings to see how far the performance could stretch while keeping the cinematic beauty intact. <div type="image" title="1" msid="113575846" hostid="261"></div> Whether you’re after flawless graphics or buttery-smooth gameplay, this review explores how the game fared against one of the most powerful gaming machines on the market. Spoiler alert: It’s a battle worth witnessing. <h2>Performance with maxed-out graphic settings </h2> I started by testing the game at its highest possible graphics settings, with the resolution set to 2560x1600. The configuration included super-resolution maxed out, <keyword id="20555614" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="DLSS" source="keywords">DLSS</keyword> with frame generation enabled, <keyword id="20976394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ray-tracing" source="keywords">ray tracing</keyword> off, and the graphics set to Cinematic, which is the game's highest preset. Under these conditions, the Alienware X16 R2 delivered frame rates between 80 to 90 FPS, occasionally dipping to around 70 FPS during scenes with heavy action or complex visual effects. <div type="image" title="4" msid="113575852" hostid="261"></div> This setup provided an impressively smooth gaming experience, with only minor, almost imperceptible lag in highly intense moments. The visual quality was breathtaking, with rich details and fluid animations bringing the mythical world of Wu Kong to life. Even without ray tracing, the lighting and shadows were handled excellently, offering a visually rich environment without sacrificing too much on performance. For players who prioritise visual fidelity and are willing to accept minor performance dips during peak moments, this setting is a solid choice. <h2>Ray-tracing enabled and its impact </h2> To test the boundaries of the laptop’s capabilities, I enabled ray tracing while keeping all other settings the same. This pushed the system's performance, resulting in frame rates that hovered between 50-60 FPS. The addition of ray tracing enhanced the visual effects, adding realistic reflections, shadows, and lighting effects that made the game’s world even more immersive. However, this came at the cost of performance. The drop in FPS was noticeable, making the game feel slightly less responsive and less fluid, particularly in combat-heavy sequences where every frame counts. <div type="image" title="2" msid="113575857" hostid="261"></div> Ray tracing undeniably enhances the game’s aesthetic appeal, but the impact on performance suggests that it might not be the best option for players who prioritise a smooth gameplay experience. For those who are more focused on cinematic visuals and are okay with lower frame rates, enabling ray tracing could still be worthwhile. However, given the hit on performance, it might be best reserved for exploring the game world rather than for intense combat scenarios. <h2>Exploring various DLSS modes </h2> To find a middle ground between visuals and performance, I experimented with various DLSS quality modes. Setting DLSS to Balanced mode, which uses 55% super-resolution, yielded frame rates in the range of 60-70 FPS. This configuration struck a reasonable balance, offering decent graphics quality while keeping the gameplay smooth enough for most scenarios. However, there were still occasional drops during graphically demanding scenes, which slightly detracted from the overall fluidity. Switching to DLSS Ultra Performance mode, with a super-resolution of 25%, drastically boosted the frame rates to between 100-120 FPS. The gameplay felt exceptionally smooth and responsive, especially during fast-paced combat and exploration. However, this setting comes with a trade-off in visual quality. Textures appeared less detailed, and some of the finer visual elements seemed a bit blurred or less defined. While the difference wasn’t drastically game-breaking, it was noticeable, especially when compared to higher DLSS settings. <div type="image" title="6" msid="113575871" hostid="261"></div> After testing various settings, I found that DLSS Performance mode with a super-resolution of 50% offered the best overall experience. This setting provided a stable frame rate range of 90-100 FPS, striking a harmonious balance between high-quality visuals and smooth performance. The game ran very smoothly, with rich details and vibrant effects that fully showcased the capabilities of the Alienware X16 R2. During intense combat scenarios, such as boss fights against formidable foes like the wolf, the game maintained its smooth performance with only minor lag. These brief interruptions were rare and didn’t significantly impact the overall experience. This setting seems to be the sweet spot, delivering excellent visuals without compromising on frame rates, making it ideal for both casual exploration and high-stakes combat. <h2>Sound quality and immersion</h2>Sound design plays a crucial role in enhancing the gaming experience, and Black Myth: WuKong does not disappoint in this regard. The audio quality on the Alienware X16 R2 was excellent, with every footstep, weapon clash, and environmental sound coming through clearly. <div type="image" title="5" msid="113575876" hostid="261"></div> The subtle rustling of leaves and the distinct thud of footsteps added depth to the game’s immersive world. While the clarity of the sound was impressive, the bass also deserves a special mention. If you don’t have access to your headphones or an extra set of speakers, you can still enjoy <keyword id="23273348" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="black-myth-wukong" source="keywords">Black Myth WuKong</keyword> and other games on this laptop. And that is really something. <h2>Verdict: which configuration should you opt for? </h2> Overall, Black Myth: WuKong performs admirably on the Alienware X16 R2 across various settings, but the ideal configuration depends on the player’s preferences for visuals versus performance. For those who value stunning graphics and can handle slightly lower frame rates, playing with super-resolution maxed, DLSS enabled, and ray tracing ‘on’ offers a visually immersive experience. However, if the goal is to achieve the smoothest gameplay possible, adjusting DLSS to Performance mode with a 50% super resolution provides the best balance between visual fidelity and frame rate stability. <div type="image" title="7" msid="113575880" hostid="261"></div> The Alienware X16 R2 handles the game’s demands well, showcasing its capability to deliver high-end gaming experiences. As a powerful gaming laptop, it proves more than capable of meeting the needs of modern, graphics-intensive titles like Black Myth: WuKong. Whether you are exploring breathtaking landscapes or battling against mythical foes, this setup ensures a seamless and visually stunning journey through the world of Wu Kong. <h2>About the Alienware X16 R2 </h2> The Alienware X16 R2 used to test this game featured an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU and GeForce RTX 4090 GPU. The laptop has a 16-inch display with 240Hz refresh rate. <div type="image" title="3" msid="113575892" hostid="261"></div> I also played other games like GTA V, Horizon Forbidden West, Shadow of The Tomb Raider and Doom: Eternal on the laptop. All of these games ran splendidly on high graphic settings. I could even pause a game, return to the home screen to do some quick work, and get back to gaming on the laptop without noticing any lag or issues. For a detailed review of the Alienware X16 R2, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/alienware-x16-r2-review/articleshow/110879384.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">click here.</a> Disclaimer: The content on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a purchasing guide or recommendation. We advise readers to do additional research, including hands-on usage of the device at a retail outlet, before making a decision.

Black Myth: WuKong performance review — Here is how the game runs on Alienware X16 R2 with Nvidia RTX 4090

Is sustainable fashion a myth?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Critics of guaranteed basic income often suggest that cash payments discourage work.</li><li>Experts say basic income can help participants afford job training and land higher-paying roles.</li></ul>Taniquewa Brewster is training to be a doula. The mom of five knows both how joyful and overwhelming a baby can be, and she wants to improve birth outcomes for pregnant Texans.While earning her <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-am-a-doula-this-is-what-i-do-2022-1">doula</a> certificate, Brewster is working full-time as an assistant property manager at an income-based housing unit. The 39-year-old said she earned the position after being promoted from her role as a leasing agent, a change she said was only possible because of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/universal-basic-income-pros-and-cons">guaranteed basic income.</a>She had previously been patching together <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-make-money-gig-worker-uber-lyft-doordash-delivery-driver-2023-12">low-paying part-time work</a> to get by."I was working as hard as I could, working overtime," Brewster said. "That's keeping me away from my family. That's keeping me away from things that I can be doing — even going back to school — because I have to work so hard to just cover rent."From September 2022 to August 2023, she received $1,000 monthly through <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/austin-basic-income-gbi-ubi-housing-homeless-parenting-rent-texas-2024-2">Austin's UpTogether pilot</a>. The cash payments gave her breathing room: she said the money helped her afford household bills, along with the real estate and doula training she needed to land higher paying jobs.Guaranteed basic income programs are gaining momentum across the US as an approach to poverty reduction. The model offers participants recurring <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/universal-basic-income-ubi">cash payments</a> for a set period of time, with no strings attached. Like in Austin's pilot, many programs are directed at households that live near the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/poverty-line-leaves-behind-low-income-americans-snap-medicare-wic-2024-6#:~:text=The%20current%20federal%20poverty%20line,up%2C%20it%20is%20too%20low.">federal poverty line</a>.Despite GBI's growing popularity with some policymakers and economic security experts, it continues to face opposition. Business Insider has covered basic income bans, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/basic-income-program-lawsuit-houston-texas-ubi-gbi-ken-paxton-2024-9">lawsuits over GBI funding</a>, and criticism that giving people cash <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/universal-basic-income-ubi-dave-ramsey-show-karl-marx-playbook-2024-7">discourages participants from working</a> — one of the most common critiques.Some experts, however, have a different view: Financial support frequently offers participants a leg-up in their careers. This is in line with results from most of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/which-states-cities-have-guaranteed-basic-income-programs-low-income-2024-4">America's GBI pilots.</a>Since the Austin program ended and Brewster started her new role, she estimates her monthly income has increased by over $3,000. She said her <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/immigrants-new-mexico-basic-income-for-housing-healthcare-ubi-gbi2024-5">job stability</a> helped her afford essentials like groceries and healthcare, and allowed her to spend more time with her children."I know it's great to have that talent and to know how to do things," she said. "But when you have that certification behind it, it just helps you to move up in the company or in whatever you do."<h2 id="0c19f308-5bbe-47f6-a561-6c5d8e61a435">Basic income critics say cash discourages work</h2><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/universal-basic-income-ubi-ray-dalio-cash-payments-harm-poverty-2024-7">Billionaires</a>, politicians, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/universal-basic-income-ubi-dave-ramsey-show-karl-marx-playbook-2024-7">financial leaders</a> have criticized basic income programs, saying that cash payments could encourage laziness among participants. Others add that having an extra monthly income could <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-17/south-dakota-texas-block-local-universal-basic-income-laws">dissuade people from having a job</a>."Do we just get born and get money from the government?" Arizona State Rep. John Gillette previously told BI. "I think the Founding Fathers would say that is very contrary to our capitalist system and encouraging people to work."Sometimes results do show that participants work fewer hours or drop multiple jobs during their GBI program. For example, in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-basic-income-study-results-2024-7">Illinois and Texas' OpenResearch study</a> — which examined the effects of two GBI programs that were funded by Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI — employment rates fell in the second and third years among the participants compared with the control group. The pilot gave 3,000 low-income families $1,000 a month for three years, beginning in 2019.When conducting guaranteed basic income pilots, researchers typically gather data on participant spending, housing outcomes, food access, mental health, job security, and weekly working hours. This data is gathered throughout a program's run and after its conclusion via participant surveys and is often compared to a control group of people not receiving cash payments.Sukhi Samra — the executive director of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, a national advocacy network — told BI that measuring employment trends can be challenging because it doesn't capture the individualized benefits of GBI.It may look like participants are working fewer hours or fewer jobs, but often, Samra said those roles are more stable and higher-paying. Although job numbers declined in the OpenResearch case, the average participant income increased, researchers found. The study speculated the income boost could be due to participants having more flexibility over their employment choices."Sometimes being able to work less does have profound impacts for families," Samra said. "Especially when you're talking about parents being able to spend more time with their children, being able to obtain a professional license or degree, or take care of an elderly parent."More than a dozen guaranteed income pilots overseen by Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, like in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stockton-basic-income-experiment-success-employment-wellbeing-2021-3#:~:text=In%20Stockton%2C%20California%2C%20125%20residents,launch%20more%20basic%2Dincome%20pilots.">Stockton</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/baltimore-basic-income-parents-afford-housing-get-jobs-ubi-gbi-2024-7#:~:text=Baltimore%20gave%20low%2Dincome%20parents,some%20lawmakers%20are%20fighting%20them.">Baltimore</a>, showed an overall increase in employment among participants. Other pilots, like one in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/denver-basic-income-project-ubi-extended-homelessness-poverty-2024-1">Denver</a>, showed no statistically significant impact on employment rates. Few programs show negative job outcomes.BI has heard anecdotally from participants that cash payments helped them <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/post/preview?svapi&amp;post_id=66ab7d4d6550c8ac4ef862cd">pay for the childcare</a> they needed to be focused at work, leading to promotions. Others said $500 or $1,000 a month was the boost they needed to drop several lower-paying gigs in favor of one <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/alabama-basic-income-single-mothers-afford-childcare-bills-birmingham-2024-8">higher-paying full-time job</a>, or reduce their working hours so they could pursue higher education or job training. Some leave their jobs to start <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-basic-income-study-results-starting-a-business-2024-7#:~:text=OpenResearch's%20study%20gave%20monthly%20stipends,essentials%20and%20considered%20starting%20businesses.">their own small businesses</a>."The benefits of that sort of compound over time, and aren't really captured in the nuances of the data," Samra said.Still, guaranteed basic income programs reflect short-term results. There is limited research on participant job outcomes in the months and years after their payments end. Participant employment — or unemployment — might also be impacted by outside factors, like the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hiring-picks-up-in-fall-low-openings-hurting-job-seekers-2024-9">changing labor market</a>, a person's family situation, or shifts to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-cost-of-living-what-is-middle-class-housing-market-2024-4">local cost of living</a>. Most GBI participants need to continue working to make ends meet.<h2 id="7292fcde-172d-457c-9073-cb15b2dc5747">Participants say basic income helped them afford job training, land higher-paying roles</h2>Cepia Harper, 41, just began her second year as a middle school English teacher. Her favorite lesson to teach is essay writing, helping students learn how to craft the perfect thesis statement.Harper began teaching shortly after enrolling in a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/georgia-basic-income-afford-rent-daycare-single-mom-ubi-gbi-2024-6">Georgia-based guaranteed basic income program</a>, In Her Hands. The program offered 650 participants — who were all low-income Black women — $20,400 over two years, ending in spring 2024.Along with helping cover <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-orleans-guaranteed-basic-income-supports-opportunity-youth-school-work-2024-9">household bills and unexpected expenses</a>, Harper said the money allowed her to get her education credentials. She had previously been cobbling together a couple of retail jobs to make ends meet."I've never had it where I could just go home to my own kids, pick them up from practice," she said. "They all play sports, and I could never leave work to go to a game."More predictable hours means Harper can spend more time with her family. Her annual income has risen by about $13,000 since she began teaching, she said, so she no longer has to work multiple jobs.And, as participants use their cash payments to build careers, Asya Howlette said they are more likely to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-orleans-guaranteed-basic-income-supports-opportunity-youth-school-work-2024-9">boost local economies</a>. As the director of the New Orleans Mayor's Office of Youth and Families, Howlette has noticed the trend in her own city, where she helped oversee a recent GBI program focused on teenagers and young adults disconnected from work and school."It's improving our economy because all of the money that these young people were using is going right back into our economy," she previously told BI. "It's not like they're sitting on a lot of cash, they're spending it right back in our grocery stores, they're putting it right back in our small businesses."While GBI isn't meant to serve as a paycheck replacement, Samra said can be a financial safety net: "We are allowing folks to stabilize and to then plan for the future," she added.Being able to afford training for more lucrative jobs in real estate and maternal care gave Brewster — the mother of five — financial confidence."It really motivated me," she said of her GBI program. "Because I knew that, once the money stopped, what would I do afterward?"Have you participated in a guaranteed basic income program? Are you open to sharing your experience? If so, reach out to this reporter at <a target="_blank" class="" href="mailto:allisonkelly@businessinsider.com">allisonkelly@businessinsider.com</a>.

The basic income myth: cash discourages work

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As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman holds a review meeting with heads of Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks on Monday, the State Bank of India (SBI) in its latest report noted that the belief that the deposit growth in the banking sector is flagging is just a statistical myth. However, the report highlighted that, while it's true that <keyword id="19998083" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="credit-growth" source="keywords">credit growth</keyword> has outpaced deposit growth in recent years, leading some to trumpet this as a sign of decelerating deposit activity, a deeper analysis reveals a different story. The report highlighted that in FY23, the banking sector, particularly All Scheduled Commercial Banks (ASCBs), registered the highest absolute growth in both deposits and credit since 1951-52. Deposits grew by an impressive Rs 15.7 lakh crore, while credit expanded by Rs 17.8 lakh crore, pushing the incremental Credit-Deposit (CD) Ratio to a staggering 113 per cent. The momentum continued into FY24, with deposits rising by Rs 24.3 lakh crore and credit by Rs 27.5 lakh crore. Despite the narrative suggesting a slowdown in deposit growth, the data tells us otherwise. Since FY22, incremental deposit growth has actually outpaced incremental credit growth, with deposits increasing by Rs 61 trillion compared to Rs 59 trillion in credit. "Decadal Deposits have expanded by a sharp 2.75 times, but Decadal credit expanded by 2.8 times since FY22, deposits expanded Rs 61 trillion vis-a-vis credit expansion at Rs 59 trillion," said the report. The report noted that the key issue at play here is not the quantum of deposits but the pricing. Historical trends have shown periods where credit and deposit growth diverge for 2 to 4 years. "The myth of a flagging deposit growth appears as just a statistical myth with credit growth outpacing deposit growth being tom-tommed as a deceleration in deposit growth" said the report. According to a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) study, as of June 2024, we are in the 26th month of this divergence, with predictions indicating that the cycle could end between June and October 2025. "The end of the divergence cycle could be June 2025 -October 2025" the report noted. The report also added that once this divergence ends, deposit growth is expected to pick up, while credit growth could slow significantly, signaling the beginning of a rate reversal cycle and a potential economic slowdown. Another noteworthy trend in the banking system is the decline in CASA (Current Account Savings Account) deposits. The report stated that the CASA deposits fell to 41.0 per cent in FY24 from 43.5 per cent in FY23, largely due to a decline in SB (Savings Bank) deposits. This decline, while somewhat aligned with pre-pandemic levels of 42 per cent, reflects a shift in how SB deposits are being used. Increasingly, SB deposits are being used primarily for transactional purposes, particularly UPI transactions, leading to greater movement across the banking system and raising concerns about the stability of SB deposits. Moreover, the rising returns on term deposits have been driving a significant compositional shift in bank deposits. The share of term deposits in total deposits has increased to 59.0 per cent in FY24 from 56.5 per cent in FY23, while the share of CASA deposits has continued to decline. The report said that this shift is a natural response to the increasing interest rate environment, as funds move from low-interest CASA accounts to higher-yielding time deposits. On an incremental basis, term deposits accounted for nearly 78 per cent of the total deposits in FY24, underscoring the impact of higher <keyword id="19950650" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interest-rates" source="keywords">interest rates</keyword> on deposit behavior. In conclusion, while the myth of declining deposit growth may persist, the reality is more nuanced. Deposit growth remains strong, with term deposits taking a larger share of the pie as interest rates rise. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/google-pixel-9-pro-fold-launched-in-india-at-172999-but-you-cant-get-your-hands-on-it-right-now/articleshow/112517193.cms">Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold launched in India at ₹1,72,999, but you can’t get your hands on it right now</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/ipo-scam-two-victims-from-hyderabad-lose-over-11crore-in-fake-ipo-scams/articleshow/112488051.cms">IPO scam – Two victims from Hyderabad lose over ₹11 crore in fake IPO scams</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indias-wearables-market-decline-for-the-first-time-as-smartwatch-shipments-fall/articleshow/112397246.cms">India’s wearables market decline for the first time as smartwatch shipments fall</a>

SBI report dismisses bank deposit concerns as a 'Statistical Myth'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Earnings likely grew for the fifth consecutive quarter in Q3.</li><li>Top strategists are eyeing 2025 results ahead of what's likely a mid-single-digit advance.</li></ul>Corporate earnings are on pace for their best non-pandemic year since 2018, and market strategists expect the party to continue in the upcoming earnings season and into 2025.Interest rates and inflation have been investors' primary concerns this year, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/labor-market-indicators-recession-warning-signs-bca-research-berezin-2024-9">worries about the labor market</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/economy-jobs-report-sentiment-consumers-elections-recession-inflation-mortgage-rates-2024-9">growth</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rates-pandemic-lows-inflation-supply-chain-geopolitical-bofa-mensah-2024-10">rising geopolitical tensions</a> have also sucked up plenty of oxygen — even though economists generally agree that a recession isn't imminent.Through all that noise, S&amp;P 500 profits have steadily risen and are set to end the year up 9.5%, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://advantage.factset.com/hubfs/Website/Resources%20Section/Research%20Desk/Earnings%20Insight/EarningsInsight_092724.pdf">according to Factset</a>. That's the biggest jump for earnings in six years, other than 2021's robust recovery. Analysts believe 2025 will be even better, with growth of nearly 15% in the cards.<div type="image" title="2024 earnings as of Q2" height="822" width="1424" msid="113984264" hostid="261" sizebytes="55446"></div>Business Insider spoke with six investment chiefs, strategists, and money managers about the earnings and economic trends to watch in the Q3 earnings season and 2025 — plus how investors can position their portfolios for success.<h2 id="cb45912e-0004-415b-94ba-d8fc7736b77e">Q3 earnings will give clues about consumers</h2>Barring a major surprise, investors will learn starting in mid-October that earnings rose for the fifth straight quarter. Profits grew 4.6% in Q3, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://advantage.factset.com/hubfs/Website/Resources%20Section/Research%20Desk/Earnings%20Insight/EarningsInsight_092724.pdf">according to Factset's latest projections</a>, though that would be down substantially from the 7.8% mark that analysts called for at the end of June.However, analysts have a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/why-do-analysts-low-ball-earnings-forecasts">habit of underselling earnings</a>. Nearly 79% of S&amp;P 500 firms beat Q2 estimates — partially due to a low bar, though results were quite strong at 11.2% growth.<div type="image" title="Factset beat rate Q2 2024" height="822" width="1424" msid="113984261" hostid="261" sizebytes="37156"></div>"What we've seen over the past few quarters, I really wouldn't describe as 'blowout growth' that sets up for disappointment going forward," said Mike Reynolds, Glenmede's vice president of investment strategy. Mid-single-digit to low-double-digit growth is "pretty sustainable," he added.<div type="image" title="Factset Q2 2024" height="822" width="1424" msid="113984259" hostid="261" sizebytes="29018"></div>Profit margins will be in the crosshairs since <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-august-consumer-price-index-federal-reserve-rate-cuts-2024-9">inflation is slowing</a>, said Anthony Saglimbene, the chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial. He's also keeping a close eye on signs about the strength of consumer spending, or lack thereof, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-wage-growth-investing-strategy-stocks-to-buy-goldman-sachs-2024-9">as wage growth dissipates</a>."There's been a lot of pricing power — not only in technology, but across a lot of the services and goods sides of the equation," Saglimbene said. "Can you hold profit margins in an environment where maybe your costs are becoming more stable, but demand is starting to slow?"Demand is either softening or steadfast, depending on your perspective. Joe Quinlan — who's head of markets strategy at Merrill and Private Bank, Bank of America — recently remarked that there's a strikingly wide gap between high-income households and those who aren't well off.The strategy chief recently wrote that a mere 4.4% of US households make up 15% of personal consumption, which is the <a target="_blank" href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/DPCERE1Q156NBEA">backbone of GDP</a>. The rich are disproportionately driving economic growth because of the wealth effect, which means they're confident since stocks are rising. Meanwhile, Quinlan noted that <a target="_blank" href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/266807/percentage-americans-owns-stock.aspx">roughly 40% of US households don't own stocks</a>."They're the ones — the lower-income households — definitely feeling the squeeze of higher prices. I know inflation has come down when we look at the metrics, but prices for food, rent, insurance — they're still elevated," Quinlan said, adding that this is limiting disposable income.Although weakness among lower-income households is troubling, strategists don't think it will show up in corporate earnings since consumers broadly are holding up."The consumer is pretty healthy," Reynolds said. "There's maybe some warning signs on the margin on credit-card balances and delinquencies, but it's really not enough to break the camel's back on earnings."<h2 id="e9ed5200-3a27-426c-b63a-a65a628a84e6">Why earnings will thrive in 2025</h2>Although investors have only seen about half of 2024 earnings, which are on track to rise 10%, it's already time to look to 2025."As the year continues, I do think it's not about earnings for this year — it's the trajectory of earnings for next year," said Andrew Slimmon, a lead portfolio manager at Morgan Stanley Investment Management.<div type="image" title="Factset 2024 earnings" height="822" width="1424" msid="113984262" hostid="261" sizebytes="29164"></div>Corporate profits should stay strong and can potentially improve, strategists say, provided that the US economy doesn't slow too much."If the macroeconomic picture holds together, there's an expectation that we should see a bit of a re-acceleration in earnings growth," said Jim Baird, chief investment officer at Plante Moran Financial Advisors.Quinlan agrees and predicted that "earnings will reflect the dynamic and resiliency of the US economy that we just closed the quarter on."Michael Smith, the head of the growth equity team at Allspring Global Investments, said his research also indicates that companies are healthy, at least compared to a few years ago."We talk to our companies quite frequently and do our own work talking to their customers and suppliers, and we really feel like there are still some pockets of strong demand through our economy," Smith said.And even if economic growth comes in light, corporate earnings won't necessarily suffer."There's not always a one-for-one relationship between economic growth and earnings growth," Reynolds said. "You can still see earnings growth at a pretty robust level, even if economic growth moderates to some extent. So again, there's correlation there, but definitely not direct causation."Bears have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stock-market-crash-bubble-sp500-outlook-valuations-1929-2000-hussman-2024-9">long warned that this market is overvalued</a>, but unless earnings suddenly plummet, Slimmon suggested that those fears are overstated."As long as Q3 of this year is OK, I think that's where we're going to start next year with close to $280 earnings estimates for the S&amp;P," Slimmon said. "And that is supportive of a stock market that trades kind of closer to 6,000."Analysts' estimates may be ambitious, Saglimbene said. He suspects that Q4 expectations will recede alongside projections for Q1 and Q2 of 2025, though that often happens before quarters."That could be a little bit of a headwind for the market," Saglimbene said. "But again, if we're growing and profits are growing year-over-year, I think the market will look past some of that."Saglimbene later added: "We might not grow by 15% next year in an environment where the economy's growing 2%, but we might grow 7% or 8%. That's a normal earnings growth kind of environment, and I think that's enough to continue to push the market higher."<h2 id="06369d93-53a3-422f-8a02-436b2da92292">3 top places to invest heading into Q3 earnings</h2>When asked which parts of the market look most attractive, strategists consistently identified three sectors: communication services, healthcare, and technology.Large-cap growth stocks have carried the market higher for years thanks to their supercharged earnings. But that has changed in recent months, Saglimbene noted.The strategy chief expects to see broader profit growth, especially in economically sensitive sectors like consumer discretionary, financials, industrials, materials, and real estate. They may also have more upside since they're cheaper."The areas that have not seen the best profit growth, like cyclicals outside of technology, their profit growth trends could actually improve more than expected because the economy is not headed for recession, because growth is remaining positive, because consumers are still spending," Saglimbene said.Smith agrees that industrials and consumer-focused sectors are worth a look, as are tech and healthcare companies. His investing strategy is centered around finding growth stocks on the so-called "right side of change" that also happen to be discounted. He said he's found more opportunities in small- and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stocks-to-buy-2025-mid-caps-investing-outlook-goldman-sachs-2024-9">mid-sized stocks</a> lately."Money has to find a home somewhere, and it tends to flow to where it gets treated the best," Smith said. "Right now, the relative opportunity is down-cap."

Here's how to invest in the Q3 earnings season as profits re-accelerate despite misplaced recession myths

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Supplements aren't regulated in the US like drugs are.</li><li>It's important to do your homework before taking them, the director of the Office of Dietary Supplements said.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vitamins-dietary-supplements-not-worth-buying-dietitians-2023-7">Supplements</a> are a polarizing topic. While some people swear by them, others think they're a total waste of time and money.But the US' top supplements expert, Stefan Pasiakos, told Business Insider that neither view is helpful."You need to come at it from an objective standpoint and let the evidence speak for itself," said Pasiakos, who leads the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health, a government body that assesses the latest scientific findings on supplements to strengthen public understanding.Pasiakos, a nutritional scientist by training, joined the ODS in July 2023 with the goal of bringing a high level of scientific objectivity to the supplement field, he said. By providing people with clear information, he hopes he can help them make informed choices that optimize their health.Dietary supplements from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/multivitamins-for-memory-older-adults-benefit-2023-10">multivitamins</a> to probiotics have become staples in our bathroom cabinets, with almost 58% of Americans saying they had taken some kind of supplement in the past 30 days, according to the latest <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db399.htm#:~:text=Among%20U.S.%20adults%20aged%2020,60%20and%20over%20(80.2%25).">data from the CDC</a> published in 2021. It's no surprise, then, that the US dietary supplement market had an estimated value of $45.1 billion in 2023, according to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/828481/total-dietary-supplements-market-size-in-the-us/">Statista</a>.But the FDA doesn't approve supplements before they hit the market, meaning, unlike drug manufacturers, companies don't have to conduct multiple clinical trials to prove their products work, quantities of ingredients don't always have to be listed, and products are sometimes contaminated by or cut with other substances not mentioned on the packaging. One <a target="_blank" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2807343?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social_jamajno&amp;utm_term=10743549280&amp;utm_campaign=article_alert&amp;linkId=225481243">2023 study</a> published in JAMA Network Open found that 89% of the 57 dietary supplements tested didn't accurately list their ingredients.While this means doing your homework before taking a supplement is crucial, it doesn't mean they can't play a role in supporting and promoting health, Pasiakos said.He shared three common misconceptions about supplements that could prevent people benefiting from them.<h2 id="bae5144e-ea2f-428c-9907-12d3c1c6ad15">1) The more supplements, the better</h2>When it comes to vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, more is not always better, Pasiakos said. It's common for people to think that because something is "natural" you can't have too much of it, but that's untrue, he said.There are instances where consuming above and beyond what's recommended is unsafe, and for a lot of natural products, we simply don't know where those upper levels are, Pasiakos said.When people take above the recommended daily limit of a supplement, the effects can be serious. In May 2023, a man died after taking <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/man-killed-by-vitamin-d-supplements-2024-2">too much vitamin D</a> over nine months.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/risks-popular-supplements-vitamin-d-magnesium-2024-4">Overdosing on magnesium</a>, meanwhile, can in extreme cases, cause paralysis and death, while overdosing on vitamin C can lead to kidney problems and vitamin B12 deficiencies, professor Rob Chilcott, the head of toxicology at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, previously told BI.<div type="image" title="A woman browses the supplement aisle in a store." height="1414" width="2121" msid="113962537" hostid="261" sizebytes="152838"></div><h2 id="14b98670-a04a-4851-b255-b229a967fb8a">2) Supplements are 'tainted and adulterated'</h2>People tend to fall into two camps, those who think all supplements are "tainted and adulterated" and others who think they all work, Pasiakos said.Pasiakos said that certain resources, such as the ODS's supplement fact sheets, can help people make informed decisions about supplements, while the third party NSF Product Certification program can guarantee a product contains what the label says it does.But it's important to know that verification programs are not backing any health claims a company might make about their product. "It's simply saying that what's on the label is in the dietary supplement," he said."All I would say is that people make sure that they become educated on these products, understand what's in them, and know that the industry is not out to get them. But there are certainly aspects of certain dietary supplements that may be considered unsafe," he said.<h2 id="9b3c3c37-ffd3-424f-984c-6059a8335205">3) Supplements are a silver bullet</h2>Pasiakos said people are always looking for a silver bullet to make them healthy, but they won't find it in dietary supplements.Like many dietitians, Pasiakos takes a food-first approach to his health. He sees supplements as complementary to a healthy diet, not as a way to replace or substitute one."You can't look at dietary supplements without understanding the underlying diet," he said. If you don't know what a person is eating and getting from their diet nutrient-wise, you can't advise them on what dietary supplements they should take, he said."I can't just ignore that. So that's why I look at it that way."

3 common myths about supplements that prevent people from improving their health, according to the US' top expert 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Lore about vampires and other blood-drinking beings has existed for centuries.</li><li>For hundreds of years, people have been coming up with scientific explanations.</li></ul>In the early 1700s, a series of unusual events kicked off a "<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1369848612000313" target="_blank" rel="noopener">media sensation</a>" about vampires. One physician <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Cambridge_Companion_to_Dracula/-sg-DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&amp;gbpv=1&amp;dq=%22magical+plague+has+been+rampant%22&amp;pg=PA15&amp;printsec=frontcover" target="_blank" rel="noopener">described</a> a "magical plague" in Serbia where "perfectly normal <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ways-villagers-buried-vampires-to-stop-rising-from-dead-2023-8">buried dead are arising</a> from their undisturbed graves to kill the living."Articles and books on these vampire attacks soon appeared in Vienna, Berlin, Paris, and London. There was skepticism, but some observers <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/3814375" target="_blank" rel="noopener">treated the</a> phenomenon of vampires almost scientifically. They noted eye-witness accounts of how the bodies looked and the evidence that the deceased had been harassing or murdering others. Was this a magical plague or a more typical one? Vampires were very real to people in the past, but there are many ways science can explain their characteristics, whether they come from folklore or fiction.<h2>What is a vampire? </h2>There are blood-drinking creatures hailing from many countries' folklore, dating back <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv6gqxp2?" target="_blank" rel="noopener">thousands of years</a>. But many modern notions of vampires started with the 1700s media frenzy and continued with "Dracula" and other tales.According to many Slavic traditions, a vampire is an <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.0022-3840.1982.00108.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">undead being</a> that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/archaeologists-find-vampire-child-padlocked-in-polish-graveyard-2023-8">rises from the grave</a> to drink blood and take its life force from the <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/2709546" target="_blank" rel="noopener">living</a>. The vampire's victims might then become undead themselves.There were also many other ways to make a vampire. <div type="image" title="An illustration of several people digging up a coffin" height="1500" width="2000" msid="104608080" hostid="261"></div>People who were murdered or died by suicide or of the plague might become vampires. Supernatural beings, like <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1nq6gm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">witches and werewolves</a>, were also candidates. Those who misused alcohol or were seen as disreputable could come back from the grave. Someone could also be born a vampire. In Romania, the seventh child was susceptible to vampirism. Babies who were <a href="https://www.insider.com/baby-born-with-second-mouth-extra-teeth-tongue-surgically-removed-2020-6">born with teeth</a> or were <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/baby-born-amniotic-sac-caul-birth-rare-spain-hospital-membrane-2016-11">covered in a caul</a> or amniotic membrane were suspicious, too. In many countries, it was important to watch over the body of a loved one before burial. Anything from a cat to a human leaping over a body could cause it to turn into a revenant. According to an early 19th-century Serbian <a href="https://www.proquest.com/docview/1297274543?pq-origsite=gscholar&amp;fromopenview=true&amp;imgSeq=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">anthropologist</a>, "An honest man cannot vampirize, unless some bird or other living creature flies or jumps across his dead body." <h2>Was vampirism based on a real disease? </h2>Pale skin, fear of sunlight, pointy fangs, and a taste for blood — all the tropes of fictional vampires have long caused people to connect the characteristics to symptoms of real diseases, from rabies to leukemia to tuberculosis.Pediatrician Michael Hefferon favors porphyria, a group of rare disorders caused by a buildup of a chemical called porphyrin. They're needed to make hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to tissues. An excess causes a range of symptoms. "People might present firstly with illness and fatigue," Hefferon told Insider. They may also have sensitivity to light that causes blistered skin, and their urine may appear red or brown. A 2016 article in <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/2547233" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JAMA Dermatology</a> called it a "dubious link" between the disorder and folkloric vampires. A neurologist suggested <a href="https://n.neurology.org/content/51/3/856" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rabies</a>, which animals can transmit to humans through a bite, as another potential disease people may have mistaken for vampirism. The disease can cause light sensitivity and affect sleep-wake cycles, leading to insomnia — a potential reason for vampires' nocturnal activities. Researchers who looked at early <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31713762/#full-view-affiliation-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vampire novels</a> thought <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-base-editing-gene-editing-leukemia-breakthrough-2022-12">leukemia</a> might have been an inspiration. While people with leukemia can look pale, Hefferon said patients either recovered or died. "It's not like a vampire disease where people are wandering the earth for years and years getting to look more and more like vampires," he said. Folklorist Michael Bell <a href="https://www.rimonthly.com/vampire-hunter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attributes</a> US cases of suspected vampirism in the 1700s and 1800s to tuberculosis. Those sick with TB grew fatigued, lost weight, and coughed up blood. <a href="https://academic.oup.com/qjmed/article/107/11/945/2890493?login=false" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pellagra</a>, caused by vitamin deficiency and which causes light sensitivity, has also been cited as a vampire-like condition. <h2>Did Bram Stoker base Dracula on a cholera outbreak? </h2>Bram Stoker published "Dracula" in 1897. Arguably the world's most famous fictional vampire, Dracula embodied many of the hallmarks of vampires that now seem cliché: He was pale, charming, and dressed in black, "with peculiarly <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/canine-teeth-sharp-front-apes-evolution-ancestors-2019-5">sharp white teeth</a>." While sunlight sapped the count's powers, it was <a href="https://www.dailynebraskan.com/culture/review-nosferatu-casts-haunting-shadow-over-cinema-100-years-later/article_02460eb6-4f46-11ed-84c0-2f4483902070.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not until</a> the 1922 film "Nosferatu" that the sun's rays killed vampires. To create his immortal being, Stoker drew on a number of influences, including tales of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dracula-vlad-the-impaler-sick-cried-blood-say-scientists-2023-8">Vlad the Impaler</a>. He may have <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24290266/#full-view-affiliation-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">partially based</a> Dr. Abraham Van Helsing, the vampire hunter, on his brother, a physician who performed some of the earliest modern brain surgeries. <div type="image" title="A portrait of Vlad the Impaler wearing a jeweled headpiece" height="1499" width="1999" msid="104608081" hostid="261"></div>Originally, Stoker <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-65745910" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set the story</a> in Austria. Later, he moved it further east and took names and bits of folklore from <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/i40131601?typeAccessWorkflow=login" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Transylvanian Superstitions,"</a> an article written by Emily Gerard. "Every person killed by a nosferatu becomes likewise a vampire after death, and will continue to suck the blood of other innocent people until the spirit has been exorcised," she wrote. Cures included staking the corpse or firing a bullet into the coffin. Historian Marion McGarry has suggested Stoker also took inspiration from his mother, Charlotte. She wrote about a cholera epidemic she lived through as a girl. The disease spreads through <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cholera-spreading-in-haiti-is-likely-descended-from-2010-strain-2022-12">contaminated water</a>, but when Stoker's mother was a child, its means of transmission were unknown. In Charlotte Stoker's reminiscences, people with the disease were accidentally buried alive, a fear echoed in her son's novel. "Count Dracula treads a path very similar to cholera: a devastating contagion traveling from the East by ship that people initially do not know how to fight," according to McGarry. In 2014, an anthropologist <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/690904" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posited that</a> 17th-century bodies <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-vampire-burials-and-what-they-mean-according-to-experts-2022-9">buried in Poland</a> with sickles and rocks — presumably to prevent them from rising as vampires — may have died during a cholera epidemic. <h2>Vampire fiction versus folklore </h2>As a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-human-bodies-decay-2016-11">body decomposes</a>, cells burst, leaking enzymes and chemicals. Blood pools in capillaries and veins, altering the skin's color. Bacteria digest tissue. The body bloats with methane, ammonia, and other gasses. The buildup of liquefied tissue and gas <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/neurophilosophy/2015/may/05/life-after-death" target="_blank" rel="noopener">can either</a> leak out of orifices or cause the stomach to burst. Much of this deterioration takes place within the <a href="https://www.livescience.com/how-long-bodies-take-to-decompose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first year</a>, but it can take a decade or longer until only bones remain. Several conditions — like extreme temperature and soil acidity — can affect the rate of decomposition. In 1892, residents of Exeter, Rhode Island, exhumed the bodies of three women, all members of the same family who had died of consumption. Two had died nearly a decade earlier. One woman, Mercy Bell, had recently died. When her brother became sick, too, the villagers decided to examine the bodies.The older corpses had decomposed as expected. But Mercy Bell looked very fresh, seemingly still full of blood. The villagers burned her heart and mixed the ashes in with her brother's medicine in an attempt to cure him. He died several weeks later.Throughout history, many people have found or exhumed extraordinarily <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bog-bodies-science-preservation-sphagnan-peat-moss-2015-10">well-preserved bodies</a>. Tightly sealed coffins or freezing temperatures can delay decomposition. In the case of Mercy Bell, she'd been buried for only a couple of months in the coldest months of winter.For centuries, people employed protection against vampires. Many involved ways of treating a dead body. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vampire-burial-rock-mouth-meant-prevent-rising-dead-2022-9">Piercing various body parts</a> with sharp objects; including candles, coins, alcohol, and other objects in the coffin; rubbing garlic on the body; and consuming blood from <a href="https://www.proquest.com/docview/1297353766?pq-origsite=gscholar&amp;fromopenview=true&amp;imgSeq=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the corpse</a> were all ways to prevent someone from rising from the grave. One folklorist saw vampires <a href="https://www.academia.edu/6804739/Review_of_Jan_Louis_Perkowski_Vampire_Lore_From_the_Writings_of_Jan_Louis_Perkowski" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as scapegoats</a>, accused because of "a need to determine the cause of misfortunes." To make sense of what was happening — perhaps the deceased's friends and family becoming ill, too — villagers might blame the first person to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/black-death-changed-human-immune-system-still-affects-today-study-2022-10">die from the plague</a> or another epidemic. If they exhumed a body, some signs of decomposition could be misattributed to markers of life: a reddened face from pooling blood, a shifted position caused by bloating and escaping gas, and liquified tissue that resembled fresh blood. <div type="image" title="Bela Lugosi as Dracula looms over a sleeping Helen Chandler in the movie Dracula" height="1498" width="1997" msid="104608082" hostid="261"></div>A corpse's beard and fingernails may appear longer, though it was an illusion created by shriveling skin. Driving a stake into the body, decapitating it, and cremation were all methods of trying to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-vampire-skeleton-discovered-in-17th-century-graveyard-poland-2022-9">stop a vampire</a> from killing others. As scientists began to learn and understand more about the body and death, stories about vampires started to evolve. In 1819, a physician named John Polidori revamped the supernatural beings' image, <a href="https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/stories/conversation-perverse-passions-will-not-die" target="_blank" rel="noopener">basing his</a> wealthy, debonair Lord Ruthven in "The Vampyre" on the romantic poet Lord Byron.A suave monster, Ruthven was by turns alluring and appalling. That vampiric ability to transform makes them enduring, with an appeal that seems unlikely to die anytime soon.

Bloodsuckers or bloated corpses? How science has tried to explain vampire myths.

Busting the myth: Why EVs aren't always greener than petrol or diesel vehicles

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Dollar stores have long been regarded as resilient in both good and bad economies.</li><li>But recent earnings for Dollar General and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dollar-tree-will-sell-7-dollar-items-straying-from-model-2024-3">Dollar Tree</a> show both companies have hit rough patches.</li></ul>Back in May 2020, when the pandemic was just beginning, Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos summed up the resilience of his chain."We do very good in good times, and we do fabulous in bad times," Vasos said on an earnings call. The numbers backed it up: Despite COVID, Dollar General was doing better than ever and had just smashed expectations for its first quarter.But four years later, Dollar General — and Dollar Tree, its main rival — are seeing a slowdown.Dollar General's same-store sales for 2023 rose just 0.2%, a much slower clip than the 4.3% it posted for 2022, according to earnings released in March.And rival Dollar Tree is closing 1,000 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/family-dollar-store-tour-shows-why-its-struggling-closing-stores-2024-3">Family Dollar stores</a> after spending nearly a decade trying to integrate the chain into its business.Some of the troubles facing dollar stores are partly due to the economy and many shoppers having to cope with higher prices — which seems ironic, given their reputation for low prices for goods like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dollar-tree-best-things-to-buy-former-employee-reveals-2023-11#i-buy-my-cleaning-products-at-dollar-tree-7">bathroom cleaner and fake eyelashes</a>. But there are also self-inflicted issues that both of the major chains are dealing with.<h2>Shoppers are struggling to afford food — meaning less spending on other items.</h2>Thanks to historically high inflation over the past few years, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/more-wealthy-people-shopping-at-dollar-stores-as-inflation-bites-2022-8">dollar stores have attracted wealthier customers.</a> But that hasn't been enough to offset less spending by core shoppers: Poorer Americans, who can't afford to buy from many other stores.Many of those customers have cut back their spending on non-essentials, such as new clothes and home decor, to shore up their budgets for food and personal care items, Dollar General and Dollar Tree indicated in recent earnings reports. Some <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dollar-generals-grocery-gains-might-be-backfiring-losing-sales-2023-3">dollar store shoppers are also relying more on credit cards</a> and borrowing from friends to cover their expenses.Dollar stores are also among the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/big-lots-dollar-general-burlington-snap-cuts-tax-refund-impact-2023-3">retailers hit by the expiration of enhanced food stamp</a> benefits a year ago. Bonus government aid early in the pandemic had benefited stores as many shoppers found themselves with extra spending money.And shoppers are likely to keep focusing on groceries and other consumables throughout 2024, analysts at Bank of America led by Robert Ohmes wrote last month. Since selling food tends to be the least profitable part of a retailer's business, that'll make it harder for Dollar General to turn a profit, the analysts wrote.<h2>Messy stores and understaffing have caught up to Dollar General and Dollar Tree.</h2>The dollar store brands' problems don't just have to do with the economy. It's also a store experience issue.Many lack the staffing that they once had. Stores used to have multiple employees on duty at a time, making it possible to ring up customers and unload the weekly inventory shipment simultaneously.One Dollar Tree store manager in Minnesota who worked for the company for a decade-and-a-half until 2022 said that his bosses allocated his store an average of 270 worker hours each week for most of his tenure.Around 2022, that number fell as low as 170 as Dollar Tree looked for ways to cut costs, the manager said. That often led to a single employee trying to juggle all the duties of running a store at once. And when the store ran out of hours, or no one was available to work, the manager would end up running the store himself. As salaried employees, Dollar Tree managers don't get paid for overtime or picking up shifts that are supposed to go to hourly employees."I always referred to myself as a 'glorified cashier' making salary because I spent so much time there," the manager said. "I would go in at 5 a.m. four days a week." A Dollar Tree spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dollar-general-workers-hours-cut-employee-shortage-leads-to-clutter-2023-5">Employees at Dollar General</a> have also indicated that similar cuts to hours have happened in recent years.The result: Many dollar stores have more items than they can sell. Often, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dollar-general-stores-closing-fire-code-violations-too-much-stuff-2023-2">products block aisles</a> and create fire hazards. Overworked employees, meanwhile, have been turning in their badges and finding other work.Now, the results of messy and understaffed stores have hit the companies' bottom lines. Shrink, a retail industry term for product that goes missing or has to be written off, has soared at both dollar store chains lately, for example. While <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/theft-just-keeps-getting-worse-for-dollar-tree-family-dollar-2024-3#:~:text=Dollar%20Tree%20says%20theft%20will,problem%20as%20in%20past%20years.">theft</a> is part of the reason, the companies have also had to heavily discount or dispose of excess inventory.In response, the companies — especially Dollar General — are making changes. Dollar General executives have outlined plans over the past few months, including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dollar-general-replacing-some-self-checkouts-because-of-theft-shrink-2024-3">removing self-checkout from 300 stores</a> to reduce shoplifting, cutting the number of products in stores, and deploying "smart teams" to stores that need extra help unpacking inventory.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dollar-general-taking-key-strategy-from-costco-lower-costs-2024-3">Selling fewer items in each store</a> and selling more store-branded products could improve Dollar General's profit margin, according to BofA's analysts. But they added that they still "see retail labor and other store-level costs as continued risks."It's not the end of the dollar store, though. Despite their problems, both Dollar General and Dollar Tree are likely to do well in the long run, given their focus on discount groceries and other goods, UBS analysts led by Michael Lasser wrote in March.Both chains "are making progress to restore the consistent earnings growth that they have produced in the past," the analysts wrote.Do you work at Dollar General, Dollar Tree, or Family Dollar and have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com

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