Is the U.S. Consumers Stronger Than Expected?

Jeff Macke and I debate Retail Sales:

This is a treasured Jeff Mack Original:

Source: U.S. Consumers Stronger Than Expected: Barry Ritholtz Isn’t Buying It

Please use the comments to demonstrate your own ignorance, unfamiliarity with empirical data and lack of respect for scientific knowledge. Be sure to create straw men and argue against things I have neither said nor implied. If you could repeat previously discredited memes or steer the conversation into irrelevant, off topic discussions, it would be appreciated. Lastly, kindly forgo all civility in your discourse . . . you are, after all, anonymous.