Fresh Inflation Data, Earnings From Walmart, Home Depot, and More
This week, investors and market watchers are eagerly awaiting fresh data on inflation, the housing market, and retail sales. After a volatile week for markets and concerns about the health of the economy, these updates will provide valuable insights into the current state of the market. Additionally, several Federal Reserve speakers will be giving remarks throughout the week, offering further insights into the economic outlook.
Retail earnings will also be in the spotlight this week, with quarterly updates due from major retailers such as Walmart and Home Depot. These earnings reports will provide valuable information on the health of consumer spending and the retail sector as a whole.
Key Economic Data Releases and Federal Reserve Remarks
On Monday, August 12, the New York Fed will release consumer inflation expectations for July. This data will provide insights into how consumers perceive inflation and its potential impact on their spending habits.
Tuesday, August 13, will bring the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index for July, offering insights into the sentiment and outlook of small business owners. The Producer Price Index for July will also be released, providing an update on wholesale inflation. Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic will deliver remarks, potentially offering further insights into the economic outlook. Additionally, Home Depot and SunLife Financial will report their earnings.
Wednesday, August 14, will see the release of the Consumer Price Index for July, which will show whether consumer inflation continues its downward trend. Cisco Systems and UBS AG will also report their earnings.
Thursday, August 15, will be a busy day for economic data releases. Initial jobless claims for the week ending August 10 will provide insights into the labor market’s resilience. The Empire State Manufacturing Index and the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index for August will offer insights into the manufacturing sector’s performance. The housing market index for August will provide an update on the state of the housing market. Industrial production and capacity utilization for July will offer insights into the overall strength of the economy. Retail sales for July and business inventories for June will provide valuable information on consumer spending and inventory levels. St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem and Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker will deliver remarks. Walmart, Alibaba Group, Applied Materials, John Deere, and JD.Com will report their earnings.
On Friday, August 16, housing starts for July will provide insights into the construction sector’s performance. The preliminary consumer sentiment for August will offer insights into consumer confidence. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee will deliver remarks.
Fresh Data on Inflation, Housing, and Retail Sales
The Producer Price Index (PPI) for July, to be released on Tuesday, will offer an update on wholesale inflation. On Wednesday, the release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for July will show whether consumer inflation continues its downward trend. These inflation data points will be closely watched as they could influence the Federal Reserve’s stance on interest rates.
Market watchers will also be paying attention to sentiment surveys from home builders on Wednesday and consumers on Friday. Retail sales numbers on Thursday will follow a strong July report that showed consumers still had an appetite for spending. Housing starts data on Friday will provide insights into the construction sector’s ability to meet the demand for housing.
Retailers Report Earnings, Including Walmart
Thursday will bring a quarterly update from Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer. Walmart surprised analysts with strong revenue growth in the first quarter and raised its full-year guidance. Investors will be closely watching Walmart’s earnings report for insights into consumer spending and the overall health of the retail sector.
Home Depot is also expected to report its earnings on Thursday. The company may see slight declines in sales and profits compared to the same time last year, as consumers have pulled back on big-ticket spending for home improvement projects.
Investors will also get a look at international retail trends with reports from Chinese e-commerce giants Alibaba and JD.com. Additionally, Cisco’s earnings on Tuesday will provide insights into tech infrastructure spending, while financial firms SunLife Financial and UBS will also report their earnings.
In conclusion, this week will be filled with important economic data releases and earnings reports from major retailers. These updates will provide valuable insights into inflation, the housing market, and consumer spending. Investors and market watchers will be closely following these developments to gauge the health of the economy and make informed investment decisions.
