Fifth straight monthly gain reflects resilient economy despite tough economic environment
Furniture sales drop 1%, while price increases account for 1.2% rise in food store sales
BMO expects a Fed rate hike of 50 bps in May as inflation cuts spending power
Americans continued to spend at a solid clip in September even while facing some sticker shock
Pent-up demand was unleashed from April to May
The deterioration of sales outpaced the decline that took place during the depths of the Great Recession