The U.S. Census Bureau announced that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for December, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $448.1 billion, a decrease of 0.1% from the previous month, and 2.2% above December 2014. This was in line with market expectations. Total sales for the 12 months of 2015 were up 2.1% from 2014. Retail trade sales were down 0.2% from November 2015, but up 1.6% from last year. Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores were up 7.6% from December 2014 and nonstore retailers were up 7.1% from last year.
The Producer Price Index for final demand decreased 0.2% in December, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Final demand prices increased 0.3% in November and fell 0.4 percent in October. On an unadjusted basis, the final demand index fell 1.0% in 2015, after rising 0.9% in 2014. In December, the decrease in the final demand index can be traced to a 0.7% decline in prices for final demand goods. In contrast, the index for final demand services moved up 0.1%.
Euro is currently being traded around 1.0940 level, Sterling is few points above 1.4330 area, while Aussie is at 0.6870 level. Later today, Industrial Production and Consumer Sentiment figures are scheduled for a release.
