U.S. Consumer Spending Held Firm in January Despite Headline Retail Dip

Underlying U.S. consumer spending started 2026 on steadier ground than a top-line retail sales decline suggests, though early February data point to a weather-related pullback that analysts expect to reverse by March January retail sales fell 0.2 percent overall, but the decline was concentrated in auto dealers and gasoline stations — two volatile components that […]