US consumers just keep on spending. US retail sales rose +1.2% in August, the largest monthly increase since March. At the same time, retail sales excluding autos increased +1.4%, the 2nd-biggest monthly increase since January 2023. Furthermore, control-group sales, which feed into the GDP calculation, surged +1.4%, the largest monthly increase since September 2024. Meanwhile, retail sales adjusted for inflation rose +0.8% MoM in August, to a record $231.6 billion. Since January 2026, real retail sales have risen +$6.7 billion, or +3.0%. The US consumer is still spending despite inflation.

I'm torn internally when people take time off. Is this normal? On the one hand, I want people to relax, enjoy time with their families and take a break. I genuinely want it. On the other hand, it pains me so much when I know we could move faster. I don't understand how you can take time off knowing that a competitor is not. In the end, I much prefer the latter rather than the former. I just struggle to admit it.

One of Japan's largest utility companies just turned loyalty points into spendable JPYC on Polygon Chain. Nice to see real stablecoin usage.

BREAKING: Brazil just allowed tokenized cows to be used as loan collateral. A farmer in Paraná was able to borrow $19,600 and used 10 dairy cows worth $23,500 as collateral for the loan. Each cow has a unique digital identity and an AI-powered collar that allows lenders to tracks its health and location.

NVIDIA CEO HUANG: WE ARE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CYCLE

Excited to share that I've joined @ForteProtocol to help them bring their flagship perps DEX, Fairground, to market. Fairground is a new way to trade perps that eliminates funding rates—eager to connect with other builders who want to learn more.

TRUMP ON TRUTH SOCIAL: The Fake News Media has lost total credibility, not that they had any to begin with. Because of their massive Trump Derangement Syndrome (Sometimes referred to as TDS!), they love saying that Iran is “winning” when, in fact, everyone knows that they are LOSING, and LOSING BIG! Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti Aircraft apparatus is nonexistent, Radar is dead, their Missile and Drone Factories have been largely obliterated along with the Missiles and Drones themselves and, most importantly, their longtime “Leaders” are no longer with us, praise be to Allah! The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may “bunk” into one of their sea mines which, by the way, all 28 of their mine dropper boats are also lying at the bottom of the sea. We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others. Incredibly, they don’t have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves. Very interestingly, however, empty Oil carrying ships from many Nations are all heading to the United States of America to LOAD UP with Oil. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

US URGES BEIJING TO CEASE MILITARY, DIPLOMATIC AND ECONOMIC PRESSURE AGAINST TAIWAN - STATE DEPARTMENT