December retail sales were flat, missing expectations

CNBC Television | February 10, 2026 at 04:30 PM UTC
Bearish 90% Confidence
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Key Points

  • December retail sales came in flat (0.0%), significantly missing expectations of a 0.4% increase.
  • Retail sales excluding autos and excluding autos & gas also remained unchanged, while core retail sales declined by 0.1%.
  • This represents the weakest core retail sales performance since September of last year, indicating a sharp slowdown in consumer activity.

AI Summary

December retail sales were unexpectedly flat, missing expectations for a 0.4% increase, with core retail sales even declining by 0.1%. This marks the weakest performance in months, signaling a significant slowdown in consumer spending during the crucial holiday season.

Model Analysis Breakdown

Model Sentiment Confidence
Gemini 2.5 Flash Bearish 90%
Consensus Bearish 90%