U.S. retail sales increased by 14.3% year over year in September, increasing by 22.3% year over year when compared to 2019. This continues strong demand since the end of pandemic lockdowns, likely contributing to the current year long peak season and supply chain disruptions. Retail sales were the highest in the sports and leisure categories and non-store categories, up 40.3% and 35.2% year over year against 2019. Increased consumption in these categories likely represents increased demand for the holiday season as consumers worried about stockouts. U.S. import data shows that goods asso...