HERE COMES RETAIL SALES...

Heads up! We are minutes away from the release of advance August retail sales data, due out at 8:30 AM ET.

Economists predict total sales advanced 0.5% in August from the previous month after rising 0.2% in July.

Excluding automobiles, sales are expected to have risen 0.3% in August after posting a 0.5% gain in July, and excluding autos and gas, sales are expected to have risen 0.3% after a ) 0.4% gain the month before.

The retail sales control group, which goes into the calculation of GDP, is expected to have advanced 0.3% in August, down from its 0.5% pace of growth in July.

We will have the full release LIVE at 8:30 AM ET. Click here to refresh for the latest »