Target Corporation reported weak first-quarter results, missing earnings estimates due to continued pressure on discretionary spending. The company’s sales fell by 3.2%, with comparable sales down 3.7% and store sales decreasing by 4.2%, while online sales saw a modest increase of 1.2%. Net income also declined by 0.8%. Target remains cautious about consumer spending, particularly in discretionary categories, as higher interest rates, economic uncertainty, and high credit-card balances weigh on consumer confidence. Despite some growth in beauty products and a nearly 4 percentage point improvement in apparel sales compared to the previous quarter, the overall trend in discretionary spending remains soft. The company has forecasted current-quarter comparable sales and profit to be largely below Wall Street expectations. Target's pre-market trading showed a decline of 9.7%. The results were underwhelming compared to Walmart's recent report, and the company is investing in price to attract customers.