GBP/USD posts modest gains around 1.2585 in Monday’s early Asian session.
The US Retail Sales dropped 0.9% in January, weaker than expected.
Investors brace for the UK labor market data and CPI inflation data, which are due later this week.
The GBP/USD pair trades with mild gains near 1.2585 during the early Asian session on Monday. The major pair edges higher amid the upbeat UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report and weaker US Retail Sales data. The US market will be closed on Monday in observance of President's Day.
US Retail Sales posted the biggest drop in nearly two years, dragging the Greenback lower. Retail Sales dropped 0.9% in January after an upwardly revised 0.7% increase in December, the Commerce Department's Census Bureau reported Friday. This figure came in weaker than the estimation of a 0.1% decline. On a yearly basis, Retail Sales increased 4.2% during the same reported period.
The better-than-expected UK GDP provides some support to the Pound Sterling (GBP). The UK economy grew by 0.1% QoQ in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024, beating expectations, according to a preliminary estimate from the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday.
Traders will keep an eye on the UK labor market data and Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation data, which will be published on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. These reports could offer some hints as to whether the Bank of England (BoE) will cut its interest rates again in the March meeting.
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