#USRetailSalesMissForecast U.S. retail sales were flat (0.0%) in December, missing the 0.4% growth forecast. This "miss" signals a cooling economy as high prices and tariff pressures weigh on household budgets. While building materials saw gains, discretionary spending on clothing and electronics plummeted. With consumer sentiment hitting a decade low, the Federal Reserve faces mounting pressure to cut interest rates. Analysts now eye upcoming tax refunds to potentially spark a late Q1 recovery for the American shopper.