A look at the consumer and inflation
Markets and the Fed are comfortably drifting towards a June rate hike but two big hurdles stand in the way. Core inflation hasn't yet signaled a sustained pickup while the improvements in sentiment haven't translated into hard data.
With CPI and retail sales due at the bottom of the hour, inflation and the consumer will be put to the test.
For more on what to look out for see:
- CPI preview: Yellen and the Fed shopping for answers
- US retail sales preview: Time for the consumer to step up
