Consumers Binge Despite Higher Interest Rates, And The Fed Watches Them Nervously

Retail sales in March increased by 0.7% seasonally adjusted, with a year-over-year jump of 4.0%. Total retail sales jumped 10.1% in March from February to $712 billion. Ecommerce, food services, and general merchandise retailers were the biggest drivers of growth.

U.S. Retail Sales Rack Up Solid March Numbers

U.S. Retail sales smashed expectations in March, with total sales up 0.7% and ex-autos up 1.1%. Non-store retailers and bars and restaurants saw the biggest year/year increase. Five out of the 10 consumer-related industries have turned positive. The latest retail sales data reflects strong consumer buying.

Weekly Report: what happened at RTH last week (0408-0412)?

5 ETFs to Tap Amazon's Growth Story

Consumer discretionary was the most net sold sector last week - GS

Consumer discretionary was the most net sold sector last week. Goldman Sachs’ U.S. Equities Weekly Rundown report. The sector’s underperformance was driven by long-and-short sales of a ratio of about 4 to 1. Seven of the 11 sectors were net sold last week and among the worst performing sectors.

Weekly Report: what happened at RTH last week (0401-0405)?

VanEck Retail ETF: The Landscape May Turn

VanEck Retail ETF focuses on 25 prominent retailers. Over the last 6 months, RTH has performed reasonably well, outperforming the benchmark index by 300%. The VanEck retail ETF has performed well over the past 6 months. The underlying conditions for the retail industry are not too ideal. The risk-reward on the charts is also not ideal.

Weekly Report: what happened at RTH last week (0325-0329)?

5 ETF Areas to Play for Easter

Home Depot Scores Big With $18.25B SRS Acquisition, Boosts Addressable Market To $1T

The Home Depot has acquired SRS Distribution Inc. For a total enterprise value of about $18.25 billion. SRS’s 2,500-plus professional sales force and 760-plus branch network across 47 states will help Home Depot expand its offering to residential specialty trade pros.

Should You Invest in the VanEck Retail ETF (RTH)?

RTH: This Powerhouse ETF Proves That Retail Is Not Dead

Weekly Report: what happened at RTH last week (0318-0322)?

Target Sweetens The Deal: Salaried Employees Reportedly To See Bonus Bonanza

Target Corp is reportedly doubling the bonuses for salaried workers in 2023. The company is set to pay 100% of eligible bonuses for 2023, doubling the previous year's allocation of 50%. The increased bonuses don't extend to hourly employees and senior executives. Target faced challenges in 2022.

Amazon Amps Up Delivery Speed and Trust to Tackle Alibaba Rivals Temu and Shein's Rapid US Expansion

PDD Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:PDD) Temu and Shein have gained traction in the U.S. Market. The Chinese e-commerce platforms are directly targeting Amazon's customer base. Amazon is focusing its efforts on countering the rise of these platforms.

Watching For A Weakening Consumer

The consumer accounts for nearly 70% of U.S. GDP. Since September of last year the overall level of retail sales has stalled. Credit card debt has increased significantly since the pandemic ended. Charge-offs and delinquency in credit card debt is reaching levels seen at the start of prior recessions. The elevated charge-off rate may be a canary in the coal mine.

Weekly Report: what happened at RTH last week (0311-0315)?

JD.com Backs Out of Currys Acquisition, Eyeing Other Expansion Paths, Stock Slips

JD.com announced it would not pursue an acquisition of British electrical retailer Currys. The company's interest in Currys was primarily due to its extensive store and warehouse network. US investor Elliott Advisors also opted out of making an offer for the retailer. JD.com’s stock price declined after the announcement.

Weekly Report: what happened at RTH last week (0304-0308)?

Why Is JD.com Stock Shooting Upwards Wednesday?

JD.com reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2023 revenue growth of 3.6% year-on-year to $43.1 billion. The company beat the consensus of $42.2 billion. JD.com generated $1.87 billion in free cash flow for the quarter.