Ian Shepherdson Retail Quotations

At best, November retail sales will eke out a small gain, and we would not be at all surprised if the numbers were to dip a bit.

Looks to us like tax rebate money is being spent, ... Retailers should have a good autumn.

This hugely strong report will doubtless be cited as evidence that the housing market is not slowing. However, the extremely warm January weather surely distorted these data, just as it boosted retail sales and depressed industrial production.

Eventually, the housing slowdown will affect retail sales too, but that is probably a story for the spring of next year, at the earliest.

A big headline drop was always in the cards after the weather-assisted surge in January, which hugely boosted retail activity.