Retail sales for January showed consumers pulled back sharply from a robust pace of spending at the end of 2024, which was likely driven by consumers stockpiling in anticipation of potential tariffs. Still, solid fundamentals, namely strong growth in personal income and healthy balance sheets, will likely lead consumer spending to improve in the remainder of Q1.
Figure 1. Retail Sales Plunge in January

Sources: Census Bureau and The Conference Board.
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PRESS RELEASE
US Consumer Confidence Virtually Unchanged in October
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PRESS RELEASE
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PRESS RELEASE
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PRESS RELEASE
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All release times displayed are Eastern Time
Note: Due to the US federal government shutdown, all further releases for The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI), The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine® Index (HWOL Index), The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® of the US (US LEI) and The Conference Board Global Leading Economic Index® (Global LEI) data may be delayed. TCB will resume publication once updated US federal government data are released.
Global growth is expected to slow over the next decade relative to the prior ten years.
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