US retail sales showcase economy’s enduring strength

WASHINGTON – US retail sales increased more than expected in November as households stepped up purchases of motor vehicles and online merchandise, consistent with strong underlying momentum in the economy as the year winds down.

The report from the Commerce Department on Dec 17 had no impact on expectations that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates on Dec 18 for the third time since the central bank initiated its policy easing cycle in September.

Fed officials started a two-day policy meeting on Dec 17. Signs of strong domestic demand added to warmer inflation readings in recent months in suggesting that the Fed could pause rate cuts in January.

Policies planned by President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration, including tariffs on imports and mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, are also seen complicating matters for the central bank.

“The market is still discounting a 25-basis-point rate cut tomorrow, but if consumers are still buying interest-sensitive goods like autos, a rational markets observer would have to wonder why would a central bank add fuel to the fire with a president-elect coming in at the end of January with one of the most pro-growth agendas of any president in history,” said chief economist Christopher Rupkey at FWDBonds.

Retail sales jumped 0.7 per cent in November after an upwardly revised 0.5 per cent gain in October, the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau said.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast retail sales, which are mostly goods and are not adjusted for inflation, advancing 0.5 per cent. Estimates ranged from a 0.1 per cent dip to a 1 per cent surge.

Retail sales increased 3.8 per cent year on year in November.

Labour market resilience, characterised by historically low layoffs and strong wage growth, is underpinning consumer spending.

Strong household balance sheets, reflecting record stock market prices and high home prices, are also driving spending. Household savings remain supportive.

Economists expect policymakers will signal fewer rate cuts in 2025 when they update their summary of economic projections on Dec 18. The Fed’s benchmark overnight interest rate is currently in the 4.5 per cent to 4.75 per cent range, having been hiked by 5.25 percentage points between March 2022 and July 2023.

“Unless the labour market materially weakens, investors should expect the Fed to ease rates next year but not as much as originally hoped,” said chief economist Jeffrey Roach at LPL Financial.

Stocks on Wall Street traded lower. The dollar was steady against a basket of currencies. US Treasury yields ticked up.

Tariffs feared

The solid increase in retail sales came despite a late Thanksgiving holiday that pushed Cyber Monday into December, and was consistent with a strong start to the holiday shopping season.

Sales at car dealerships jumped 2.6 per cent, likely boosted by residents replacing motor vehicles damaged by hurricanes Helene and Milton. Online retail sales vaulted 1.8 per cent, probably reflecting early holiday promotions.

Receipts at sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and book stores increased 0.9 per cent. Building material and garden equipment store sales rose 0.4 per cent, likely as residents rebuilt in areas devastated by Helene and Milton.

There were also decent gains in sales at electronics and appliance stores, as well as furniture outlets.

But there were pockets of weakness and hints of belt tightening among some consumers, especially low-income households.

Though layoffs remain low, hiring has cooled down. Consumer debt loads are expanding.

Receipts at food services and drinking places, the only services component in the report, fell 0.4 per cent after increasing 0.9 per cent in October. Economists view dining out as a key indicator of household finances.

Sales at clothing stores decreased 0.2 per cent. Grocery store sales also declined 0.2 per cent. Sales at miscellaneous retailers, which include florists and gift shops, dropped 3.5 per cent, extending the prior month’s decline.

Nonetheless, consumers generally remain in good shape. Retail sales excluding automobiles, petrol, building materials and food services rose 0.4 per cent in November after a 0.1 per cent dip in October. These so-called core retail sales correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of gross domestic product (GDP). They rose 0.3 per cent after adjusting for inflation.

Growth in core retail sales averaged a 6.5 per cent annualised rate in the last three months. Economists estimated that consumer spending was running at around a 3 per cent pace so far in the fourth quarter.

Consumer spending grew at a 3.5 per cent rate in the third quarter, accounting for most of the economy’s 2.8 per cent pace of expansion during that period. The Atlanta Fed is forecasting GDP increasing at a 3.1 per cent pace in the fourth quarter.

“We expect households to keep spending into the new year, but for the pace of consumption to slow as the year progresses and tariff-related price pressure bites,” said economist Shannon Grein at Wells Fargo.

“While the broad household sector is still in a decent financial position today, data suggests consumers are growing more vulnerable amid slowing real income growth and still-high financing costs.”

While consumers continue to carry the economy on their shoulders, manufacturing remains downbeat in part because of the lingering effects of the Fed’s policy tightening and a crippling strike by factory workers at Boeing. REUTERS