August 15, 2026

Budget, Credit Cards

July Retail Sales Fall 0.6 Percent, Denting the September Fed Hike Case

A single shopper carrying one small paper bag walks through a nearly empty shopping mall concourse, daylight from overhead skylights reflecting off the polished stone floor.

U.S. retail and food services sales fell 0.6 percent in July to $763.6 billion, the largest monthly decline since May 2025, weakening the case for a September Fed rate increase.

Laura Adams
August 15, 2026