Friday’s Mini-Report, 8.14.26

Today’s edition of quick hits. * A fresh round of discouraging economic news: “After splurging on the World Cup and Amazon Prime Day sales, Americans unexpectedly cut their spending in July by the biggest amount in more than a year. Retail sales fell 0.6% last month, marking the biggest decrease since May 2025, compared with a revised gain of 0.2% in June, according to the Commerce Department data released Friday. Economists were projecting a small increase.” * It sure does seem as if Moscow is testing NATO: “Polish security services have foiled a Russian plot to assassinate a U.S. citizen in the country, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Thursday. A Russian national working under orders of Russian intelligence was arrested Friday in Warsaw, Tusk told reporters. U.S. intelligence aided the e