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Coinciding with the release of the labor data, Target announced troubling results that triggered a dramatic plunge in its stock price, dropping by over 20% in a single day. The company’s performance serves as a reflection of broader economic trends, revealing that consumer purchasing power and confidence are faltering. Following a temporary uptick stimulated by price cuts earlier in the year, Target’s sales collapsed in the latter half of the third quarter as American consumers withdrew from spending, despite efforts to attract them with discounted prices.