Retail CEOs Still Optimistic About Consumer Spending

With disappointing holiday sales, retailers ended 2015 on a sour note. So far 2016 hasn't looked much better, with U.S. markets in the midst of the worst start of a year ever. Despite the questions swirling about global economic contagion, retail CEOs are quite optimistic — even if no one else is. Since consumer spending accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, it's worthwhile to listen to what the country's retail leaders are saying in an attempt to gauge the pulse of the nation's consumers.