Apple’s earnings will give a peek into the mindset of the high-end consumer

$Apple (AAPL.US)$ reports earnings on Thursday for the quarter ended in June.
The third quarter of Apple’s fiscal year is typically the company’s smallest in sales. The quarter is in the back half of the iPhone’s annual refresh cycle as investors start to look forward to the release of a new model, which boosts revenue starting in late September or October.
This year analysts and investors will be closely watching Apple’s earnings in the face of many new macroeconomic trends, including declining consumer confidence, rising interest rates and decades-high inflation.
So far, Apple’s sales have remained strong, partially because its customers are a fairly well-off group. But any signs that people are putting off Mac and iPhone purchases because of inflation or recession fears could have implications for the whole economy.
Apple investors should focus on several issues:
1.Supply issues and China lockdowns
2.September quarter demand