Retail sales

US economy

2026-08-15 05:07:42

U.S. retail sales post sharpest drop since May 2025 as confidence and labor data weaken

U.S. consumer spending showed clearer signs of slowing in July, with Commerce Department data showing retail sales fell 0.6% from a month earlier, the steepest monthly decline since May 2025 and well below expectations for a modest gain. Sales excluding gasoline also fell 0.6%, suggesting the weakness was not limited to energy-related price effects. Core retail sales, a measure often used to track underlying consumer demand, dropped 0.4%. Online sales fell 2.2%, and auto and parts dealers also posted declines, while sales at restaurants and bars rose 0.5%. Because retail sales are reported in nominal terms, the inflation-adjusted picture may be softer. With U.S. CPI rising another 0.1% in July, real goods purchases may have fallen by close to 0.7%. Market participants, as cited by BlockBeats, said the Iran war and the related energy supply shock are adding pressure to the U.S. economy. The Federal Reserve had earlier said conflict in the Middle East lifted energy prices and inflation, while household spending growth remained only "very moderate." Separate data from the University of Michigan showed preliminary August consumer sentiment fell to 51 from 55.2 in July, while July employment data also pointed to softer conditions.

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US economy

2026-08-14 14:19:15

U.S. consumer sentiment slips to 51 in August as inflation worries pick up

U.S. consumer sentiment fell for the first time in three months, with the University of Michigan’s preliminary August reading dropping to 51 from July’s final 55.2, below the median economist estimate of 55. The survey pointed to rising concern among households over worsening business conditions and higher inflation. Consumers said they expect prices to rise 4.3% over the next year, a slight increase from the prior month and well above the level seen before the Iran conflict broke out in February. Long-run inflation expectations for the next five to 10 years were 3.3% on an annual basis. The survey also showed that confidence in both short-term and long-term economic prospects weakened after improving for two straight months. Views on the labor market were little changed since the start of the year, while concern about inflation increased and worries about unemployment eased. Responses were collected from July 28 to Aug. 10, a period when the U.S. national average gasoline price stayed above $4 a gallon. A separate report released Friday showed U.S. retail sales in July posted their biggest drop in more than a year as consumers cut back on automobiles and online purchases.

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DXY

2026-08-14 14:29:50

Dollar Index hits lowest level since May as rate-hike bets fade

The U.S. Dollar Index, or DXY, briefly fell to its lowest level since May on Aug. 14 after weaker-than-expected U.S. retail sales data led traders to cut back expectations for further rate hikes this year. Following the release, bond traders also pulled back wagers that the Federal Reserve would raise borrowing costs in 2026. That tightening narrative had been supporting the dollar for months, making the latest move a notable shift in positioning. The decline also left the greenback on track for a weekly loss for the sixth time in the past seven weeks. Recent pressure on the dollar has been building since last Friday’s softer-than-expected labor market report, while this week’s mild inflation data added to the move, according to Jin10 as cited by BlockBeats.

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US Economy

2026-08-14 13:37:14

US July retail sales fall 0.6%, raising fresh questions over consumer demand

U.S. retail sales fell more than expected in July, adding to concerns that consumer demand may be losing momentum in the second half of the year. Data released Friday by the U.S. Census Bureau showed retail sales dropped 0.6% month over month, the steepest monthly decline since May 2025, versus market expectations for a 0.1% increase. The pullback was led by weaker vehicle purchases and softer online retail activity. Excluding autos and gasoline, retail sales slipped 0.2% in July, missing forecasts for a 0.3% rise. The closely watched control-group measure, which feeds directly into GDP calculations through personal consumption expenditures, fell 0.4% from the prior month. Economists and market participants are paying particular attention to that reading because it is widely used as a gauge of underlying consumer strength. The report also pointed to several short-term drags on July spending, including the timing shift of Prime Day-related promotions into June, weaker apparel, furniture and gasoline sales, hot weather around the July 4 holiday, and fading post-World Cup demand. On a yearly basis, retail sales still rose 5.0%, but the pace slowed. Bank of America card data cited in the report showed lower-income households have recently outpaced higher-income households in consumption growth, suggesting the long-running K-shaped spending split may be narrowing.

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Federal Reser

2026-08-14 12:35:11

Traders Trim Bets on More Than One Fed Rate Hike Before Mid-2027

Traders have reduced expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates more than once before the middle of 2027, according to a market update cited by Odaily. The shift came after weaker U.S. retail sales data for July. The monthly retail sales reading fell 0.6%, marking the biggest decline since May last year. That figure also missed market expectations, which had pointed to a 0.1% increase. The data and the change in rate-hike pricing indicate a softer view among traders on how far the Fed may need to tighten policy over that period. Odaily reported the move as a market development without naming additional institutions or traders involved.

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US economy

2026-08-14 12:30:42

US July retail sales fall 0.6%, missing market expectations

US retail sales fell 0.6% month over month in July, according to a ChainCatcher news update. The reading marked the biggest decline since May last year and came in below the market expectation of a 0.1% increase. The data point adds a fresh macro signal for financial markets tracking US consumer activity. ChainCatcher cited the July retail sales figure at -0.6%, compared with an expected +0.1%, while noting that the drop was the steepest monthly decline since May of the previous year. No additional breakdown was provided in the source item.

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