Retail Sales, Imports & Exports Warmer Ahead of Fed Meeting

Economic Data Summary - Retail Sales for August increased by +0.6%, double the expected +0.3%, reverting to the baseline seen in late 2024 [1] - Excluding auto sales, Retail Sales rose by +0.7%, which is 10 basis points higher than the upwardly revised July figure, marking the second-highest increase this year [2] Inflation Indicators - The Import Price Index for August showed a positive change of +0.3%, contrasting with an expected decline of -0.2%, marking the first back-to-back positive reports since February [4] - Export prices also increased by +0.3% month-over-month and +3.4% year-over-year, the highest level seen in 2025 [5] Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Meeting Insights - The FOMC meeting is set to include 12 voting members, with new developments including the addition of a Fed Governor [6] - Stephen Miran, Chairman of the Presidential Council of Economic Advisors, is expected to advocate for a more significant rate cut than the anticipated 25 basis points [7] - The previous FOMC meeting saw dissenting votes for the first time in 30 years, indicating potential shifts in monetary policy perspectives [8]