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A handful of key economic data points dropped last week, painting a picture of an economy that is successfully downshifting from its recent inflation peaks even as consumers keep their footing.
Despite obstinate inflation and higher-for-longer interest rates, consumers continue to open their wallets and spend. But how they spend is another story.
According to the Census Bureau's Advance Retail Sales Report, consumer spending rose for a fifth straight month in June. Headline sales were up 0.2% as expected, marking a slowdown from May's 1.0% increase.
The Amplify Online Retail ETF (IBUY) has rallied over the past month, signaling a robust appetite for online consumer discretionary spending despite persistent macroeconomic headwinds. Outsized gains in specialized healthcare retail and online travel names have driven performance for IBUY's underlying index.
One of the biggest online sales of the year is currently in full swing. Of course, we are talking about Amazon's Prime Day 2026, which runs from June 23 to June 26.
As summer takes shape, investors are navigating shifting monetary policy, stubborn inflation pressures, and unexpected market momentum.
According to the Census Bureau's Advance Retail Sales Report, consumer spending climbed for the fourth straight month in May. Headline sales rose 0.9%, almost double the projected 0.5% growth and marking an acceleration from April's 0.4% rise.
As macroeconomic pressures persist, consumer staples outpace discretionary plays while the e-commerce landscape evolves from a discretionary trade into an everyday necessity.