Here Come Retail Sales...

Expectations are for sales to climb 0.6% in August, up from flat sales in July. July's report was the worst reading for retail sales in six months.

Excluding car sales, retail sales are expected to rise 0.3%, and excluding autos and gas, sales are expected to gain 0.5%.

In a note to clients ahead of the report, Ian Shepherdson at Pantheon Macroeconomics said, "The August retail sales numbers should surprise to the upside today, offsetting at least some of July's disappointment."

Shepherdson added that, "All the indicators we look at, including auto sales and the chain store sales numbers, suggest that activity rebounded very strongly last month."

Shepherdson expects total retail sales to jump 1%, and to rise 0.3% excluding auto sales.

We'll be back to cover the report live when it hits.