Published: 2024-01-04T14:58:33.000Z
Preview: Due January 17 - U.S. December Retail Sales - Completing a slower, but not weak, Q4
Senior Economist , North America
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We expect a 0.4% rise in December retail sales, with gains of 0.3% both ex autos and ex autos and gasoline.
The data will show that consumers still have some momentum, though Q4 will be slower than the strong Q3.
Industry data suggests a rise in auto sales while price data suggests little change from gasoline.
Ex auto and gasoline the last seven months have alternated between strong months and subdued months.
After a 0.6% rise in November we seem to be due for a subdued month, though a 0.3% rise would exceed the 0.1% seen in October, which was the slowest month since a decline in March. Consumer confidence was stronger in December.
