new york may 26 reuters  earnings from retailers this week illustrated a split in shopping patterns of more and lessaffluent americans dealing with the highest inflation in four decades as high inflation has lifted prices of everything from tvs to toothpaste lowerincome consumers have curbed their spending habits according to stores that cater to them higherincome shoppers have shown resiliency snapping up tailored suits designer gowns and footwear according to the department stores that cater to them on thursday dollar general said shoppers were purchasing more food and beverage products instead of apparel home and seasonal products rival dollar tree said shoppers were responding favorably to its new greater value products and its broader range of items priced at 3 to 5 read more stores under the dollar tree banner delivered their strongest quarter in company history samestore sales surged 112 at department store operator macys which tends to draw middle to higherincome consumers shoppers spent money on nonessentials such as tailored suits gowns and beauty products read more sales at its upscale bloomingdale’s department stores rose 28 in the first quarter while they rose 25 at its luxury beauty outlet blue mercury macys ceo jeff gennette said that at households earning more than 75000 yearly the customer was very healthy and spend levels were quite strong although households earning less than 75000 yearly were most affected by inflation gennette said they spent more time shopping at macys discount outlets macys reaffirmed its fullyear sales guidance and boosted its earnings forecast after several other retailers including walmart wmtn target tgtn and rival kohls kssn had cut forecasts citing inflation inventory and supply chain issues read more macys rival nordstrom jwnn also bucked the trend of gloomy outlooks issuing a robust increase to its forecast michael witynski dollar trees ceo said he was ramping up investments in labor distribution and its supply chain we are taking the necessary actions now to position ourselves for accelerated growth in what i view as the most attractive sector in retail especially in the current macro environment he said on thursday bigger rival walmart disclosed in its earnings last week that many shoppers were saving money by choosing more storebrand privatelabel lunch meat deli bacon and dairy items many lowerincome shoppers also shifted to buying milk in halfgallon rather than fullgallon containers walmart said but even at walmart some moreaffluent shoppers bought higher priced items such as gaming consoles and patio furniture reporting by siddharth cavale in new york editing by david gregorio