Retail Sales Get No Help From Surging Credit Card Debt
Optimistic
26.6
Retail sales unexpectedly stalled at the end of the year, raising questions about the strength of the American consumer.
In the past years, household consumption has been a vital engine of growth. Even as inflation squeezed budgets and confidence surveys turned gloomy, people kept spending.
That's precisely why the latest data felt different. Not a collapse, but a clear break from the steady upward trend that defined most of the year.
Year-End Slowdown
The Commerce Department reported that retail sales were flat in December compared with November. Economists had expected a modest gain of about 0.4%, especially during the holiday shopping season. Instead, spending didn't move at all.
November had delivered a solid 0.6% increase, while earlier in the summer, there were even stronger gains, i
In the past years, household consumption has been a vital engine of growth. Even as inflation squeezed budgets and confidence surveys turned gloomy, people kept spending.
That's precisely why the latest data felt different. Not a collapse, but a clear break from the steady upward trend that defined most of the year.
Year-End Slowdown
The Commerce Department reported that retail sales were flat in December compared with November. Economists had expected a modest gain of about 0.4%, especially during the holiday shopping season. Instead, spending didn't move at all.
November had delivered a solid 0.6% increase, while earlier in the summer, there were even stronger gains, i
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This analysis was generated using Pulse AI, Glideslope's proprietary AI engine designed to interpret market sentiment and economic signals. Results are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice.
