Upcoming Retail Sales Report May Force Fed’s Hand on September Rate Cut

From fxempire.com

Today’s U.S. retail sales report takes center stage as a key indicator of consumer spending and overall economic health. All eyes are on the numbers, with forecasts suggesting a 0.4% increase in July retail sales, building on June’s 0.2% rise. The core retail sales figure, excluding volatile categories like automobiles and gasoline, is expected to show a modest 0.2% uptick. This number, closely tied to GDP’s consumer spending component, could reveal underlying consumer trends and set the tone for economic discussions in the coming weeks. Recent job market data adds another layer of complexity to the economic ... (full story)