Whirlpool: Iraanse oorlog veroorzaakt recessie in huishoudapparaten

Whirlpool reports that the Iran war has triggered recession-like conditions in the U.S. appliance industry, with first-quarter shipments falling 7.4% and discretionary demand down 15%. CEO Marc Bitzer attributed the decline to reduced consumer confidence, as geopolitical tensions amplified existing cost-of-living concerns, pushing sentiment to 50-year lows. Rather than purchasing new appliances, consumers are increasingly opting to repair existing products and trading down to cheaper models, compressing both sales volume and profit margins.