USD Overview (18 February 2021)

Yesterday, USD strengthened against most major currencies except AUD and JPY.

The retail sales m/m data released yesterday indicated a sharp rise in consumer spending as consumers utilized their received $600 stimulus checks.

• Core Retail Sales m/m (Actual: 5.9%, Forecast: 1.1%, Previous: -1.8% revised from -1.4%)
  
• Retail Sales m/m (Actual: 5.3%, Forecast: 1.1%, Previous: -1.0% revised from -0.7%)
  

In the released minutes for the previous monetary policy meeting, the Federal Reserve highlighted that the U.S. economic conditions are currently far from the central bank’s long-term goal, implying that monetary policy is unlikely going to change anytime soon.

The U.S. housing data will be released later at 2130 (SGT).

• Building Permits (Forecast: 1.67M, Previous: 1.70M revised from 1.71M)
  
• Housing Starts (Forecast: 1.66M, Previous: 1.67M)