Home Depot (NYSE: HD) revenue for 2015 Q3 was $21.8 billion, a 6.4% increase YoY. EPS rose 17.4% YoY from $1.15 per share to $1.35 per share. Comparable sales for 2015 Q3 are up 5.1% from 2014 Q3 driven by increases in purchases of appliances, roofing and countertops.

Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) recorded total revenue of $117.4 billion for 2015 Q3, down 1.3% YoY, and an EPS of $1.03, down 10.4% YoY. US Walmart comparable sales are up 1.5% while Sam’s Club comps are down 3.3% (accounting for fuel impact). US sales are up 3.8% for the quarter while international sales are down 11.4% YoY.

Target (NYSE: TGT) reported a 2015 Q3 EPS of $0.86, up 8.6% YoY. Revenue was up 2.1% YoY at $17.61 billion. Comparable sales are up 1.9% driven by an increase in the number of transactions (traffic) and product categories such as Style, Baby, Kids, and Wellness.

Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) recorded a 5.18% decline in net sales for 2015 Q3 as a result of falling demand and its plans to close 35 to 40 stores by early next year. Consequently, net income fell by 46.08% from $217 million to $117 million and EPS decreased 40.98% to $0.36 per share this quarter from $0.61 last year.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 % in October (seasonally adjusted) driven by rising shelter, food, and medical care costs. The October increase reverses September’s 0.2% decline. For the past 12 months, the all items index is up 0.2% driven by increases in the food index but significantly weighed down by declines the energy index.

Industrial production is down 0.2% for October because of weakness in utilities (fell 2.5%) and mining (down 1.5%). Although manufacturing is up 0.4%, it was not enough to offset the declines in utilities and mining. On a quarterly basis, total industrial production is up 2.6% (revised up from 1.8% previously reported).

The FOMC maintained that normalization of monetary policy in December is possible. However, it noted that the decision to raise the federal funds rate would only be made after economic conditions for raising the policy rate are met. There were concerns from some FOMC members that a delay in normalization may signal lack of confidence of the strength of the US economy.