Several retail- and consumer-related economic reports are due out this week, and two of them will be coming this morning. The numbers we finally get will tell us what we need to know about retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) in the coming weeks.
The reports coming today will tell us whether prices are rising and how retail sales fared last month. Before anyone gets ahead of themselves, this month has shown only a vague sign of a consumer economic recovery. For once, job creation has outpaced losses and retail sales are anticipated to be decent. But are things ticking along like they should be? [Luxury ETF Gets a Boost.]
Analysts expect that retail sales rose last month, led primarily by gains in the auto industry. Now there’s a shift. But the fact that consumers are spending at all – even while joblessness is still high – is encouraging. [ETF Strategies for the Retail Rebound.]
Consumer Reports, however, recently illustrated the struggles that many Americans are still facing down. Consumer stress levels are still where they were one year ago, while many consumers are either late on their credit card bills, missed a major payment and have lost or reduced health care coverage. Consumer sentiment is still unchanged from one year ago, but that picture will be clarified a little more on Friday, when new consumer sentiment numbers are released. [3 ETFs to Watch This Earnings Season.]
For more stories about retail, visit our retail category.
- SPDR S&P Retail (NYSEArca: XRT)
- Vanguard Consumer Discretionary (NYSEArca: VCR)
The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.