- Global Markets Investor
- Posts
- US consumer is running out of steam
US consumer is running out of steam
US retail sales are falling in real terms
Global Markets Investor
February 10, 2026
In partnership with
GLOBAL MARKETS INVESTOR’S PORTFOLIO IS 🔥UP +93%🔥SINCE JANUARY 2024
DURING THE MARCH-APRIL 2025 MARKET TURMOIL, MAJOR US INDEXES FELL NEARLY 20%, WHILE THE GMI PORTFOLIO GAINED OVER 5%, FIND OUT HOW BELOW:
Retail sales came in at 0.0% MoM, missing expectations of +0.4% and sharply below the +0.6% gain in November.
Money Management Making You Mad?
Most business owners hit revenue goals and still feel cash-strapped.
Not because they're not making money. But because their money flow is broken, their decisions feel urgent instead of strategic, and their systems feel fragile instead of solid.
The Find Your Flow Assessment pinpoints exactly where friction shows up between your business and personal finances.
5 minutes with the Assessment gets you clarity on:
where cash leaks
what slows progress,
whether your current setup actually serves you
No spreadsheets, or pitch. Just actionable insight into what's not working and why.
Educational only. Not investment or tax advice.
Sales excl. autos also came in flat at 0.0%, well below the +0.4% estimate.
The control group, which feeds directly into the GDP calculation, fell -0.1%, the worst miss of all 3 readings against the +0.4% forecast.
8 out of 13 categories posted declines, including clothing stores, furniture outlets, and auto dealers.
Adjusted for inflation, retail sales fell -0.2% YoY in December, the worst reading in 16 months, meaning consumers are buying less in real terms than a year ago.
This suggests a significant weakness in consumer spending momentum at the end of the holiday shopping season.
Over the last 5 years, inflation-adjusted retail sales have been flat, meaning consumers are barely keeping up with rising prices.
It has to be mentioned that consumer spending in aggregate is basically driven by only the top 20%. If not for them, the US economy would have been in a deep recession for years.
If you find it informative and helpful, consider a paid subscription or become a Founding Member, and follow me on Twitter or Nostr: