"Consumer confidence remains high despite an ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China, and unemployment levels remain low. So many low-income shoppers have been encouraged at the start of the year to spend a little more. But they’re not going to Tiffany or Nordstrom to do that. They’re just spending more at places like Walmart and Dollar Tree."

-CNBC retail reporter Lauren Thomas, writing last week on CNBC.com about the “key reason why Walmart, Target and Costco are thriving.”