US January retail sales down 0.9% MoM, consumer sentiment weakens

US retail sales in January decreased by 0.9% compared to the previous month.

According to data released by the US Department of Commerce on the 14th (local time), US retail sales in January decreased by 0.9% compared to the previous month. While Wall Street experts predicted a 0.2% decrease, the actual figure turned out to be significantly worse.

Core retail sales, excluding food and energy, showed a 0.4% decrease.

The monthly retail sales indicator, which tracks merchandise sales performance, is a metric that can indicate changes in consumption and sentiment. The decline in retail sales suggests that consumer sentiment is freezing due to high interest rates, high prices, and intensifying inflation.