Australia’s Wesfarmers shares slide as high living costs temper second-half start

Wesfarmers Ltd. reported its first-half 2026 results, prompting a share price decline as management highlighted that elevated living costs are weighing on Australian consumer spending at the start of the second half. CEO commentary and market reaction indicate investor concern about the resilience of key retail divisions under sustained cost-of-living pressure. The event matters because Wesfarmers is a major bellwether for Australian consumer demand and broader retail sector conditions.

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