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US retail sales, as measured by the Commerce Department went down by 0.1% in Jul - marking the first negative reading in 5 months - as motor vehicle purchases plunged 2.4%. The news adds to the pile of evidence suggested that US consumers are suffering under the weight of high food and energy prices, along with deteriorating labor market conditions and plunging home prices.
Excluding autos, the index rose less than expected by 0.4%. Looking at a further breakdown of the report, it appears that the decline in average gas prices from over $4/gallon during the last half of Jul helped to slow the gasoline station component, which only increased 0.8% (compared to 4.0% in Jun and 3.3% in May). Overall, the report highlights the fact that retailers are at a particular disadvantage in the current economic scenario, as deteriorating labor market conditions and persistently high energy and food prices limit discretionary income. As a result, those that are able to maintain low prices, such as discounters and wholesalers, are likely to be the only retailers to see profits in the next coming months.
Meanwhile, the Labor Department reported that the US import price index rose 1.7% in Jul to push the annual rate to yet another record high of 21.6%. The biggest increases, as usual, stemmed from petroleum and industrial supplies (such as raw materials). However, given the sharp appreciation of the US dollar recently, the August reading of the import price index could actually show much slower gains, if not declines.
Thus far, the news has weighed on the US dollar, but additional US economic releases await the currency this week. Next up: CPI. For more on this, see Chief Strategist Antonio Sousa's USD Forecast - Why Inflation Matters to the Fed.
08:54
Posted on Aug-13-2008
