01:06 PM EDT, 09/11/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Consumer stocks were higher Thursday afternoon, with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) increasing 0.9% and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) rising 1.7%.

In corporate news, Kroger ( KR ) shares rose 1.9%. The company raised its full-year guidance for identical sales growth on Thursday as the metric topped market estimates in its fiscal Q2, while earnings rose above expectations.