The Week Ahead: Retail Earnings, PCE Inflation Data

• Friday, May 29 will be the busiest day with multiple data releases: revised Q1 GDP, personal income/spending, PCE inflation index (the Fed's preferred gauge), and trade balance data
• Retail earnings from Gap, Dollar Tree, Kohl's, and AutoZone will provide insights into consumer spending trends during the quarter
• Key housing market data includes the S&P Case-Shiller home price index on Tuesday and new home sales figures on Thursday

Summary: The Week Ahead - Retail Earnings and PCE Inflation Data

Key Economic Events:

The Memorial Day-shortened trading week (May 25-29, 2026) will feature critical economic data releases, with markets closed Monday, May 25. Investors will focus on inflation indicators and economic growth metrics to gauge the Federal Reserve's interest rate trajectory.

Economic Data Schedule:

• Tuesday, May 26: S&P Case-Shiller home price index and consumer confidence
• Thursday, May 28: Weekly jobless claims, durable goods orders (including ex-transportation), and new home sales
• Friday, May 29: The busiest day features revised Q1 GDP, personal income/spending, the closely watched PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures) inflation index—the Fed's preferred gauge—plus core PCE, trade balance, retail/wholesale inventories, and Chicago PMI

Corporate Earnings:

Major retailers and technology companies reporting include:

• Retail: Dollar Tree (DLTR), Gap (GAP), Kohl's (KSS), AutoZone (AZO)
• Technology: Salesforce, Dell Technologies (DELL), HP (HPQ), Snowflake (SNOW), MongoDB (MDB), Box (BOX), NetApp (NTAP), UiPath (PATH), Zscaler (ZS)

Market Implications:

The combination of retail earnings and housing data will provide insights into consumer health, while the PCE data remains crucial for Fed policy expectations. The revised Q1 GDP reading will offer an updated view of economic momentum. Durable goods orders will signal business investment trends. This compressed week of data releases could create heightened volatility as traders position for interest rate outlook adjustments.

The focus on both consumer-facing retailers and enterprise technology companies will offer a comprehensive view of economic conditions across multiple sectors.