New Delhi, June 16 -- The second half of 2026 is shaping up to be more uneven for US credits, a research report by Fitch Ratings said. The agency warned that inflation and higher-for-longer interest rates will deepen pressure on consumer-sensitive sectors while energy-linked industries benefit.

The bifurcated outlook suggests more rating downgrades ahead for retailers, homebuilders and packaged foods unless real incomes recover, even as natural gas and LNG infrastructure see tailwinds from AI data centre demand and coal-to-gas switching.

According to Fitch Ratings' midyear update to 2026 sector and asset performance outlooks, "Downward sector outlook revisions to 'deteriorating' outnumbered upward revisions, though most outlooks remain ...