(Bloomberg) -- Lower-income shoppers are increasingly stretched, based on the latest company earnings reports. Consumer retrenching may weigh on growth expectations and even draw the Federal Reserve’s attention as it plots monetary policy.

Take comments from retailers on various ends of the spectrum, which tumbled in Wednesday morning trading: 

Micro-cap clothing chain Citi Trends, which accentuates low prices, said the first half was tough for customers in the lowest income bracket, who cut their shopping trips as they faced “extraordinary pressure” from inflation. The firm declined to predict when demand will pick up.

Upscale retailer Nordstrom highlighted the split between affluent and less-affluent consumers, echoing Macy’s. The company said customer traffic and demand slowed significantly in late June -- mainly at its discount chain Nordstrom Rack -- and cut its revenue forecast for the year. And car-repair company Advanced Auto Parts said it expects inflation and increases in fuel prices to keep pressuring DIY consumers for the rest of the year.

Earlier in the earnings season, AT&T sparked some concern when it cautioned that some customers were putting off paying their bills, by about two days on average. T-Mobile said it was seeing an uptick in bill-payment delays, though levels were still well below pre-pandemic figures.

In general, affluent consumers have been spending freely on luxury items and indulgences. Even so, the upper reaches of the housing market are starting to show signs of cracking. Toll Brothers, at the top end of publicly-traded US homebuilders, with an average price in backlog of an estimate-topping $1.04 million, said it is increasing buyer incentives -- which may yet grow.

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