The hashtag #USRetailSalesMissForecast was trending following the release of official data on 10 February 2026, which showed that US retail sales figures for December 2025 showed no growth at all (0.0%).
Here are the key points from the report:
- Actual vs. Forecast: Retail sales were recorded at 0.0%, well below economists' forecasts of 0.4% growth.
- Decline in Key Sectors: The report from the US Department of Commerce showed declines in the automotive dealer (-0.2%), furniture store (-0.9%), and restaurant and bar (-0.1%) categories.
- Market Impact: This disappointing data has sparked concerns about a slowdown in household consumption, which is the main driver of the US economy. This caused stock indices such as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to weaken and put pressure on the US dollar (USD) as investors speculated that the Federal Reserve might take a more dovish stance on interest rates.
- Consumer Sentiment: Analysts attribute this "stagnation" to weakening consumer confidence and cost-of-living pressures, even though the labour market remains relatively stable.