From the Desk - Economic Commentary
Brandon Casey, Member Strategies - 8/14/2026
U.S. equity markets are trading cautiously this morning following the release of weaker-than-expected retail sales data. While stocks have been supported this week by softer inflation reports, today's economic data has raised questions about the pace of consumer spending heading into the second half of the year. Market sentiment continues to benefit from strong corporate earnings and expectations that the Fed may leave interest rates unchanged at its September meeting, though investors appear more cautious following the latest consumer spending report
U.S. retail sales unexpectedly declined 0.6% in July, representing the largest monthly decrease in several months. Despite the monthly decline, retail sales were 5.0% higher than a year ago. The control group of sales, which most closely resemble the consumer spending component of U.S. GDP, fell 0.4% for the month.
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