Consumer Products Makers Confront New Challenges Posted by Bob O'Brien GROUP FACES HIGHER DOLLAR, WEAKER I’NAT SALES, INVENTORIES Classic investment theory long has held that consumer staples outperform the broad market during times of economic distress. That’s been true over the course of the last 12 months, at least on a relative basis, as an index of consumer staples has fallen by less than half the declines in the value of the broad list - down 19% versus loss of 40% for the S&P 500.

The ECB pauses on rates as it mulls how it can keep money flowing through the banking system.