US retail sales came in hotter than anticipated in November. The headline number hit 0.6%, outpacing the 0.5% forecast. Strip out auto sales and you still see solid momentum at 0.5% versus the expected 0.4%. The control group—a key measure for consumer spending trends—also matched expectations at 0.4%.

Why does this matter? Strong retail data like this typically signals robust consumer demand, which can influence Fed policy decisions and reshape market sentiment. When Americans are spending, it ripples across asset classes, including crypto markets where macroeconomic signals play an outsized role. Keep an eye on how this translates into broader economic policy moves heading into the new year.