US retail sales improvements affirm strength of consumer

US retail sales rose a solid 0.6 percent in July to the highest monthly level ever - $446.5 billion. May and June were also revised upward, affirming the strength of the consumer, and if the Fed is looking for a reason to delay raising rates they won't find it in this report. 

Sure the latest China devaluations have caused market jitters and cast doubt on a September hike but there will always be an excuse if we look for one.  A Fed rate hike will be a vote of confidence for the economy and may actually strengthen the economy by getting "wait and see" consumers, investors, and businesses off the bench.