We've got a little bit of a disappointment in terms of retail sales. Headline retail sales come in up 2/10 of a percent. They were up 6/10 in the month of August.Now, remember, this is September data. The expectation was for a 4/10 rise. Ex autos were up 3/10, which is what was forecast.But the control group, we don't have that number yet, hasn't come through yet. We'll get that for you in just a second. But ex autos and gas of all the 8/10 of a percent.So a lot having to do with prices there in terms of PP ...

Core Insights - Retirement savings for Americans aged 65 to 74 averaged $200,000 in 2022, significantly below the recommended $560,000 by Fidelity [1] - A survey by New York Life indicated that 35% of U.S. adults have delayed or plan to delay retirement due to challenges in building adequate savings [2] Group 1: Reasons for Delaying Retirement - The primary reasons for delaying retirement include insufficient savings (51%), inflation (46%), and changing economic conditions (32%) [3] - 92% of Americans expressed concern about current market conditions, leading to 53% revising their retirement strategies [3] Group 2: Financial Planning Challenges - The complexity of retirement planning is increasing due to macroeconomic conditions and rising healthcare costs, as noted by Jessica Ruggles from New York Life [4] - Less than half (45%) of respondents have considered healthcare and long-term care expenses in their retirement planning [6] Group 3: Generational Insights - Millennials and baby boomers are the most likely to report having retirement savings (43% each), while Gen Xers (38%) and Gen Zers (36%) are slightly behind [5] - 60% of adults are confident in their savings for retirement, but 32% are uncertain about outliving their assets [6]

US wholesale inflation picked up in September from a month earlier, reflecting higher energy and food costs https://t.co/J72B49ppTH ...

Core Insights - Inflation remains a persistent challenge for consumers and the stock market, particularly since the pandemic, influencing economic and political narratives [1] - The Federal Reserve's rate cuts and the limited availability of official inflation data have increased inflation risk for investors [1] Active ETFs - Active ETFs provide flexibility and a focus on fundamental research, which can help navigate macroeconomic uncertainties [2] - These ETFs utilize fundamental metrics like cash flow and profitability to identify resilient investment opportunities [2] - Active ETFs can adjust their investments more readily than passive funds, allowing for strategic responses to market changes [2] Inflation-Sensitive Investments - Certain active ETFs target sectors that benefit from rising inflation, focusing on input goods that typically see price increases [3] - A specific example is the T. Rowe Price Natural Resources ETF (TURF), which charges a 44 basis point fee and invests in global companies within key supply chains [4] - The lack of official inflation data may complicate market analysis, but active ETFs can provide flexibility and potential outperformance [4]

The last piece of inflation data the Federal Reserve will see before its pivotal December meeting to debate another interest-rate cut showed just a mild increase in wholesale prices ahead of the government shutdown. ...

U.S. September PPI (Producer Price Index) YoY rose 2.7%, in line with expectations of 2.7% and up from the previous reading of 2.6%. ...

Nigeria’s central bank unexpectedly held interest rates steady on Tuesday, despite expectations that inflation will continue to cool in Africa’s largest oil producer. https://t.co/386WChmusv ...

Core Viewpoint - The devaluation of the dollar is causing savings accounts to lose value, prompting a need for investors to reconsider their asset allocations [1][3][4]. Group 1: Reasons for Dollar Devaluation - Expectations for inflation have risen, leading to a decreased demand for dollars as foreign investors anticipate lower future purchasing power [3]. - Factors such as tariffs and the growing national debt contribute to the negative perception of the dollar, with inflation potentially being the only way to manage the debt without spending cuts or tax increases [4]. Group 2: Impact on Savers - Ordinary Americans, who typically hold more wealth in savings accounts, are disproportionately affected by dollar devaluation and inflation [4][5]. - Traditional savings instruments and bonds offer fixed returns, which do not keep pace with rising prices, resulting in a loss of purchasing power for savers [5]. Group 3: Alternative Asset Recommendations - It is advised that while maintaining an emergency fund in a liquid savings account is important, additional funds should be allocated to assets that are less impacted by dollar value fluctuations [5]. - Assets such as stocks, real estate, precious metals, and durable commodities are recommended as they tend to maintain their value during inflationary periods [6].

Core Insights - Burlington Stores reported higher third-quarter sales and raised its full-year outlook, indicating strong consumer interest in off-price retail due to inflation concerns [1] Company Performance - Burlington Stores experienced an increase in third-quarter sales, reflecting a positive trend in consumer behavior towards off-price retailers [1] - The company has raised its full-year outlook, suggesting confidence in continued sales growth [1] Industry Trends - There is a noticeable shift in consumer spending towards off-price retailers, driven by inflation and economic concerns [1]

Group 1: Consumer Spending Trends - Despite sticky inflation and rising healthcare premiums, consumer shopping is expected to increase, with an estimated 187 million Americans planning to shop from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, which is 3 million more than last year's record [3] - Black Friday remains the most popular shopping day, with around 70% (131 million people) intending to take advantage of deals, indicating the resilience of the American consumer [4] - The National Retail Federation forecasts total holiday spending during November and December to exceed $1 trillion for the first time, with sales growth projected between 3.7% and 4.2% over 2024 [4] Group 2: Retail Sector Performance - The S&P 500 Consumer Discretionary Index and S&P 500 Consumer Staples Index have underperformed this year, lagging behind the broader S&P 500 Index due to macroeconomic factors and a focus on high-growth sectors like AI [6] - Discount retailers such as Dollar General and Dollar Tree have shown strong performance, up 34% year-to-date, while Coca-Cola and Walmart are up 16% year-to-date [6] - Notable gainers in the discretionary sector include Tapestry, Ralph Lauren, Wynn Resorts, and Hasbro, with year-to-date gains ranging from 40% to 60% [6]