According to @BullTheoryio, core retail spending, a major driver of U.S. GDP, decreased by 0.1% in December, marking the weakest performance in eight months. The decline was observed across key sectors such as clothing, furniture, electronics, and auto dealers during the holiday season. However, certain categories like building materials and sporting goods showed resilience.

According to @business, a federal appeals court refused for now to pause an order requiring the Trump administration to fully fund November food-aid benefits for 42 million eligible Americans by Friday. According to @business, this leaves the full-funding requirement in force for now and indicates November benefits must proceed on the stated timeline.