S&P 500 Futures Edge Up Ahead of Key US Retail Sales Report

US stock futures ticked higher on Monday as investors turned their attention to the upcoming release of retail sales data, a key indicator of consumer spending. S&P 500 futures rose slightly in early trading, suggesting a cautious but positive open for Wall Street. The focus is squarely on the government’s monthly retail sales report, which measures how much Americans are spending at stores and online. Strong retail numbers typically signal a healthy economy, but they can also raise concerns that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer to fight inflation. Weak numbers, on the other hand, could ease those worries but might point to a slowdown in growth. Traders are also weighing recent corporate earnings reports and comments from Fed officials for clues about the future path of monetary policy. The market remains sensitive to any data that could shift expectations for the central bank’s next move. As such, the retail sales figures, due later in the session, are set to be the main driver of trading activity for the day.