Retail sales data surged in October as holiday shopping started early for the second year in a row. The strong month, which followed a flat month in September, suggested that, at least for now, a recession was not at hand. Sales grew by a stronger-than-expected 1.3% with broad-based increases. Nine of ... READ MORE >
consumer spending
Spending grows, even with higher-than-expected inflation
Despite a sharp drop in energy prices, August's personal consumption expenditures price index—the Federal Reserve's key gauge for inflation—rose by 0.3% after falling by 0.1% in July. The price increases ate into spending, bringing spending growth from a 0.4% increase in dollar terms to only a 0.1% ... READ MORE >
American spending and income eroded by multi-decade high inflation
American consumer spending barely kept up with price gains in June as the Federal Reserve's key inflation gauge—the Personal Consumption Expenditure price index—reached a new multi-decade high, according to government data released Friday. Additionally, personal income declined for the first time since ... READ MORE >
Consumer confidence sours but capital spending holds strong
The final estimate for consumer sentiment in February came in slightly higher than the advance estimate, rising to 62.8 from 61.7 previously, yet remaining at a decade low. Concerns over elevated inflation, rising interest rates and higher gas prices all took a toll on confidence, according to a new ... READ MORE >
U.S. consumers spend more in January, defying inflation
Personal spending rebounded in January even as inflation rose at the highest rate in decades. Consumers looked past the omicron surge to spend more for the first time in three months on an inflation-adjusted basis. Spending rose 2.1% on the month, and 1.5% after adjusted for price increases while the ... READ MORE >
Five things that retail sales tell us about holiday shopping
Navigating the strong headwinds from the pandemic has not been easy for retailers this holiday season, but here are five things we have learned about their response as reflected in the November retail sales data released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday. Stockings are already full October and ... READ MORE >
U.S. November retail sales: Consumer spending moderates
The American consumer has held up remarkably well during the recent surge in inflation. But that was not the case in November as the pace of spending moderated to an 0.3% increase, which is likely because of an adjustment to rising prices, according to government data released Wednesday. The October ... READ MORE >
Retail sales beat expectations in a sign of a strong holiday season
Retail sales rose by 1.7% in October as consumers, flush with cash, signaled a strong start to the final quarter of the year, according to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday. The increase beat an upwardly revised 0.8% in September and was the third month in a row that retail sales ... READ MORE >
Canada retail sales climbed in August as in-person activities picked up
Canada retail sales rose by 2.1% to CA$57.2 billion in August due to increases in both prices and volume of goods sold, according to data released by Statistics Canada on Friday, a promising sign for the country's economic recovery. This increase was observed across all provinces in the first full month ... READ MORE >
Personal income, spending and savings are getting back to normal
Households are spending more and savings less, enjoying their summer and getting ready for school, government data released on Friday suggests. In short, households are getting back to normal. But whether that’s sustainable will probably be determined by somehow convincing all Americans to get a ... READ MORE >