Wall St Week Ahead Investors zero in on health of consumer with retail sales, earnings

Durable consumer spending has been a key reason for the economy’s resilience in the face of higher interest rates, with a better-than-expected economy supporting stocks this year. The S&P 500 is up about 13% year-to-date, though it has retreated roughly 6% from highs reached in late July.

“It’s hyper-important to us because that’s really what has been resilient in this economy," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B Riley Wealth. "We really want to see what consumers are doing versus what they’re saying.” As earnings reports arrive, investors will also focus on comments from bank executives about whether Americans are defaulting on loans and paying back credit card debt. Bank of AmericaEarnings reports from other industries will also offer views on consumer behavior. They include consumer products giant Procter & Gamble

To be sure, a strong retail sales number could also spark concerns, potentially renewing worries that a too-hot economy will push the Fed to take a more hawkish interest rate stance.

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Stock futures inch higher as investors wait for earnings kickoff from JPMorgan, other Wall Street banksBarbara Kollmeyer is based in Madrid, where she leads MarketWatch's pre-markets coverage of financial markets and writes the Need to Know column. She has worked in London and Los Angeles for MarketWatch previously. Follow her on Twitter bkollmeyer.
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