December Retail Sales Miss Expectations, Up Just 0.1%

Headline: December retail sales post an ugly number, growing just 0.1%, against expectations for a 0.4% month-over-month rise. Retail sales less autos decllined 0.2% month-over-month. Watch for revisions to these numbers. Expectations: Expectations are for a 0.4% month-over-month rise in retail sales, and a 0.4% month-over-month rise in retail sales less autos. Analysis: Consumer spending accounts for over two-thirds of the economy, and retail sales account for nearly 50% of consumer spending. So, investors watch retail sales data to better understand changes in the economy. Retail sales