Consumers are showing signs of strain even as they keep spending, CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor reveals
Retail sales advanced at their slowest pace in almost a year in October as American consumers revealed signs of strain from high prices, according to the latest CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor. Core retail spending, which excludes restaurant spending, climbed 0.3% month over month to $454.2 billion.
In this article
On the inflation data front, retail sales advanced at their slowest pace in almost a year in October as American consumers revealed signs of strain from high prices, according to the latest CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor. Core retail spending, which excludes restaurant spending, climbed 0.3% month over month to $454.2 billion.
Key points
- CNBC/NRF lately expanded the monitor to include about 120 million debt and credit cards.
- Its closely followed consumer price index grew 0.4% in October, a modestly higher month-over-month growth rate than forecasters forecast.
- A solid Halloween season and an early start to holiday promotions held the figure from being even lower.
- Wednesday's data offers the latest signals of how higher-than-usual inflation and increasing prices are impacting US consumers.
Inside the Inflation data story
A solid Halloween season and an early start to holiday promotions held the figure from being even lower, the NRF noted. CNBC/NRF lately expanded the monitor to include about 120 million debt and credit cards, making it one of the biggest sources of card spending in the country. Technology businesses have hiked prices for products ranging from MacBooks to Xboxes in the face of surging memory chip costs alongside the artificial intelligence boom.
Wednesday's data offers the latest signals of how higher-than-usual inflation and increasing prices are impacting US consumers, whose spending accounts for the bulk of the country's economic output. Its closely followed consumer price index grew 0.4% in October, a modestly higher month-over-month growth rate than forecasters forecast, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Tuesday.
And a National Federation of Independent Business survey disclosed on Tuesday that a net 37% of businesses planned to hike prices in the next three months, the highest since July 2022, when the American economy was dealing with energy price shocks owing to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Why traders are watching inflation data
Inflation figures decide how long central banks keep interest rates high. Hotter-than-expected readings usually lift bond yields and the local currency, while softer data raise hopes of rate cuts.
Price data feed straight into central-bank decisions, which makes them some of the most market-moving releases on the calendar for forex, bonds and stocks.
Market reaction and data
Crypto prices at the time of writing, from Binance spot data (2026-11-11 12:32 UTC):
| Asset | Last price (USDT) | 24h change | 24h high | 24h low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | 73,874.01 | -0.40% | 74,843.82 | 72,727.27 |
| Ethereum (ETH) | 2,051.59 | -1.77% | 2,109.09 | 2,006.00 |
| Solana (SOL) | 83.71 | -1.11% | 85.24 | 81.34 |
What to watch next for inflation data
Next in focus are the coming inflation releases, central-bank reaction to them and changes in market pricing for future rate moves.
Key scheduled releases on the economic calendar:
- GBP GDP m/m on Thu Nov 12, 07:00 UTC, forecast 0.0%, previous 0.1%
- USD Core PPI m/m on Fri Nov 13, 13:30 UTC, forecast 0.3%, previous 0.7%
- USD PPI m/m on Fri Nov 13, 13:30 UTC, forecast 0.4%, previous 1.3%
Follow every update in our Top 10 Breaking Market News, read Zelenskyy flags Ukraine is 'not real estate' as experts say a Russia peace agreement stays elusive or see all of today's top market news.
FAQ
What is the latest inflation data news?
Retail sales advanced at their slowest pace in almost a year in October as American consumers revealed signs of strain from high prices, according to the latest CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor.
Why do inflation numbers move markets?
Inflation data change expectations for central-bank interest rates, and rate expectations drive currencies, bond yields and stock valuations.
Where does this information come from?
This report is based on coverage from CNBC Top News, checked against market data where available. It is a summary for information only and not investment advice.
Risk warning: This article is for information only and is not investment advice. Trading forex, CFDs, stocks and crypto carries a high risk of losing money. Prices move fast – check live quotes before you trade.
