Retail Sales Fall More Than Forecast, PPI Also Declines

The video discusses a significant decline in retail sales during December, with a 1.1% drop, exceeding forecasts. The control group, which affects GDP, fell by 0.7%. PPI data shows a decrease, indicating falling inflation, which the Fed favors. Car sales and gasoline prices contributed to the retail sales drop, with department stores and non-store retailers like Amazon also underperforming. PPI data reveals deflation in goods prices and a slight increase in core prices, raising questions about potential economic weakening.

What does the core PPI consist of according to the text?

What is the main debate regarding the economy as mentioned in the text?