Last week, the Commerce Department reported that US retail sales fell 1.9% in December. It marked the end of the fourth consecutive month of growth, following November’s rise of 0.3% and a 1.8% jump in October. December’s disappointing performance, it is widely agreed, reflects a combination of consumers’ fears over inflation and the supply chain dysfunction that has emptied many store shelves.
What is the retail sector to make of these numbers? Are they a momentary blip in an otherwise healthy string of advances? Or, do they signal the start of a greater decline. For answers we turn to Anjee Solanki, national director, Retail Services, US, Colliers.
View the presentation here.