USD Overview (18 August 2021)

Yesterday, USD strengthened against all major currencies.

The retail sales m/m data released yesterday indicated a decline in consumer spending amid the rising fear over the Delta variant of the COVID virus.

• Core Retail Sales m/m (Actual: -0.4%, Forecast: 0.2%, Previous: 1.6% revised from 1.3%)
  
• Retail Sales m/m (Actual: -1.1%, Forecast: -0.2%, Previous: 0.7% revised from 0.6%)
  

The housing data will be released later at 2030 (GMT+8).

• Building Permits (Forecast: 1.61M, Previous: 1.59M revised from 1.60M)
  
• Housing Starts (Forecast: 1.60M, Previous: 1.64M)
  

The Federal Reserve will be releasing the minutes for the recent monetary policy meeting tomorrow at 0200 (GMT+8).