Samuel Rines

Samuel Rines, managing director at Corbu, dives into the puzzling persistence of inflation. He reveals how companies are prioritizing price increases over volume sales, a strategy evident in earnings calls from brands like Wingstop and PepsiCo. Rines discusses consumer behavior, noting the surprising willingness to spend despite rising prices. He touches on trends across retail, highlighting the dichotomy between companies like Target and Walmart. Finally, he explains the concepts of 'greedflation' and 'excuse inflation,' shedding light on corporate pricing strategies.

Samuel Rines, managing director at Corbu, offers sharp insights into corporate pricing strategies. He discusses how the 'price over volume' approach is fading, making way for a model focused on maintaining prices while boosting sales. The conversation also touches on the recent earnings season, highlighting Pepsi's performance and the ongoing trend of layoffs in the tech sector. Rines explores how companies adapt to economic pressures and the evolving relationship between pricing power and workforce dynamics.

In this episode, Samuel Rines, economist and author, discusses the current economic cycle, the concept of 'excuseflation', and the state of the consumer. They also explore the impact of leisure vacation travel on the economy and the effects of global geopolitical events on investment portfolios. This wide-ranging discussion offers insights into the economy and its various sectors.