Amazon.com Inc AMZN.O, a major component, is expected to release earnings on April 27. By David Randall NEW YORK, April 14 (Reuters) - Investors are awaiting earnings reports from consumer discretionary companies in coming weeks for a read on how the U.S. economy is faring amid persistently high inflation and the Federal Reserve's most aggressive rate hiking cycle since the 1980s. Yet widespread layoffs in the first quarter have hit affluent technology workers while the recent regional banking crisis has pulled back available credit for households, potentially squeezing the outlook for spending on entertainment, restaurants, autos and hotels.