The U.S. Postal Service has proposed a 9 to 12 percent increase in fees for the shipping service used by Amazon (CNBC). 

Weakness in restaurant receipts weighed on retail sales last month, which fell 0.1% from August, well below consensus estimates for a 0.6% increase. However, the 1.8% drop in consumer spending at restaurants may reflect the impact of Hurricane Florence, and broad strength across most other categories suggests consumption remains strong. Also, retail control-group sales, which are used to calculate gross domestic product, and exclude food services, auto dealers, building-materials stores and gasoline stations, topped estimates with a 0.5% rise month over month. (LPL)

Earnings season kicked off Friday. S&P 500 Index companies are expected to report their ninth consecutive increase in profits and third consecutive quarter with an increase of over 20%. We expect strong earnings gains to be driven mostly by solid economic growth, particularly manufacturing, and tax cuts. In addition, higher oil prices should give energy sector profits a boost and the interest rate environment has gotten better for financial companies. This week, 54 S&P 500 companies will report quarterly results.

With Northwest Quadrant Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor I am Troy Reinhart.