U.S. Retail Sales Unexpectedly Rise in August

The video discusses recent data on retail sales and jobless claims in the U.S. Retail sales showed mixed results with a decline in July but a slight increase in August. Jobless claims rose, possibly due to seasonal factors. The analysis covers sector-specific performance, market reactions, and the impact of inflation. Non-store retailers like Amazon saw significant growth. The discussion also touches on the use of control groups in economic analysis during the pandemic.

What was the percentage change in retail sales for August?

• 3.6%

• 0.7%

• 2.1%

• 1.8%

Which sector showed no change in sales despite expectations?

• Non-store retailers

• Motor vehicles

• Food and drinking places

• Grocery stores

How did the equity market react to the economic data?

• NASDAQ was positive by 4/10

• S&P was down by 7 points

• NASDAQ was positive by 2/10

• S&P was up by 7 points

What is the purpose of using a control group in retail sales analysis?

• To include auto sales

• To increase the reported sales figures

• To exclude volatile items like gasoline

• To adjust for inflation

How did non-store retailers perform in the reported month?

• Down by 3.6%

• No change

• Up by 2.1%

• Up by 5.3%