The December retail sales report comes as investors are closely watching for signs of health in the consumer as the Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates higher for longer than initially hoped.

Retail sales gained 0.4% in December from November, slightly below projections for a 0.5% increase, according to FactSet.

Retail and food services sales for December 2024 continued to grow, proving that despite an inflationary economy, Americans are still shopping.