Retail sales post largest drop in nearly two years in January amid tariff uncertainty
1. US retail sales dropped 0.9%, largest decline since March 2023. 2. Consumer sentiment worsened amid rising prices and uncertain tariff impacts. 3. Spending remained supported by labor market resilience and elevated wage growth. 4. Online store sales slid 1.9%, suggesting cooling consumer demand. 5. Expected economic slowdown could potentially influence S&P 500 market outlook.