Overview

• Retail sales rose 0.2% from July, ending four months of declines, with five of eight categories higher led by office, IT and communication goods up 4.9%.
• The expanded retail gauge that includes vehicles, construction materials and food wholesale advanced 0.9% on the month but fell 2.1% year over year.
• Services volume increased 0.1% in August for a seventh straight monthly gain, renewing the series high, as services to households rebounded 1.0%.
• Four of five service groups grew, with information and communication down 0.5%; the sector stands 18.7% above its pre‑pandemic level and up 3.1% over 12 months.
• Interest‑rate futures rose after the retail report, with traders also tracking Federal Reserve remarks and Brazil’s fiscal discussions for policy cues.