Upcoming business and economic developments are set to take center stage this week, with several key reports on the horizon.

**Retail Sales Monitoring**

The U.S. Commerce Department is scheduled to unveil its monthly report on retail sales this Tuesday.

In October, retail sales experienced a 0.4% increase from the prior month, further highlighting the robust consumer spending driving the economy’s continuous growth. This uptick was largely fueled by increased expenditures at automobile dealerships, restaurants, and stores selling electronics and appliances. For November, economists anticipate a projected rise of 0.5% in retail sales.

Here’s a breakdown of the monthly percent change in retail sales, adjusted for seasonality:

– June: -0.3

– July: 1.2

– August: -0.1

– September: 0.8

– October: 0.4

– November (estimate): 0.5

**Insights from the Federal Reserve**

A two-day meeting of Federal Reserve officials will conclude on Wednesday, during which they will provide an update on interest rate policy.

Last month, the Fed decided to lower its key interest rate by a quarter percentage point, following a significant half-point cut in September. While many analysts expect another rate reduction, some officials within the Federal Reserve have indicated that they have not yet reached a conclusive decision regarding any further cuts this month.

**Housing Market Trends**

Additionally, the National Association of Realtors will present its latest insights into U.S. home sales trends on Thursday.

Forecasts suggest that sales of previously occupied homes increased in November, potentially reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.01 million homes. There was a notable rise in existing home sales during October, which marked the first annual increase in over three years, as buyers took advantage of declining mortgage rates and a greater availability of homes.

Here is the monthly trend for existing home sales, expressed in millions and adjusted to an annual rate:

– June: 3.90

– July: 3.96

– August: 3.88

– September: 3.83

– October: 3.96

– November (estimate): 4.01

This week’s reports are poised to provide essential insights into the current trajectory of the economy, focusing on consumer behavior and the housing market, which are both vital indicators of economic health.