US retail sales dropped by 0.1% in September 2013. They were expected to rise by 0.2%. Core sales advanced by 0.4% as expected. The Producer Price Index was predicted to rise by 0.2% but actually fell by 0.1%. Core PPI by 0.1% and this was also the actual number. All the data were delayed due to the government shutdown. All in all, the data is a bit disappointing.
The US dollar has been on a roll, recovering from previous losses. EUR/USD traded at 1.3760, GBP/USD at 1.6073 and USD/JPY at 97.90 before the publication. The dollar was initially a bit weaker, but it is now returning to levels seen before the release.
The dollar enjoyed a recovery after a big losing streak due to the poor resolution to the political crisis and the weak Non-Farm Payrolls. Most data released in October relates to September. Weak data before the crisis is worrying, as everybody sees the situation as having deteriorated due to the crisis.
The S&P Case Shiller House Price Index will be released later on, and so will the CB Consumer Confidence. Both are figures released by the private sector.
Further reading: The euro’s reluctant rise.
