Retail investors are trading less. Over the last 20 trading days, retail investors have purchased just +$1 billion of single stocks, near the lowest 20-day total in at least 2 years. In early August, this figure even briefly turned negative for the first time since at least October 2024. By comparison, retail's 20-day purchases stood at +$20 billion in April 2025. Furthermore, total retail equity purchases have declined to +$10 billion over the last 20 trading days, near their lowest reading since at least October 2024. Retail equity purchases are now down -67% from the +$30 billion recorded over the 20-day period in February 2026. Retail investors are becoming more cautious.

Retail is skipping Bitcoin this cycle and going straight onchain @that1618guy says people he never expected to get into crypto are buying tokens on @fomo without even knowing what chain they're on "The funny thing is this cycle, perhaps it starts from onchain. Usually it always starts from Bitcoin"

Retail investor: I just buy and hold index funds. Slow and steady. Me: Good. Seriously. That's the base. I do the exact same thing with $VOO and $QQQ Retail investor: Wait, you hold index funds too? Me: Of course. The only difference is I don't let them just sit there. I use them as collateral and sell puts against them for another 15% ish on top. Retail investor: So you're not replacing index investing… you're stacking on it? Me: Exactly. You're doing step one perfectly. You just stopped before step two. Retail investor: What if he market crashes with he portfolio secured put? Me: Ratios are always in check so you will be fine in 50%+ crashes. Retail investor: Why does nobody mention step two? Me: Because step two takes a few hours to understand so instead they choose to not for some reason... Please don't be like the retail investor making this huge mistake...

Retail sales bounce back, lawmakers say Thames Water creditors should be blocked, and football owners are feuding -- get briefed ahead of your morning calls with The London Rush

Retail investor: I got a raise & I'm not sure what to do with the extra money. Me: What'd you do with the last one? Retail investor: ...honestly? It just kind of disappeared into life. Me: That's the most expensive thing that happens to most people & nobody notices it happening. Retail investor: Lifestyle creep, I know. Me: Here's the thing... You were fine on the old salary. So the entire raise is free money you've already proven you don't need. Retail investor: So put all of it in? Me: Look at that chart. Every raise you've ever had could've gone in there & you'd have never felt it missing. That's the difference between people who build something & people who make good money forever & have nothing. Retail investor: Where does it actually go? Me: Index funds first like $QQQ. Boring on purpose, but beats 95% of people in the long run. & once that base is real, those same shares can secure puts & pay you a second time. But nothing works until money actually makes it into the account...

Retail Sales beat estimates across the board, including headline growth of 1.2% versus 0.8% expected. Import Prices also beat, Business Inventories were in line, and the NAHB Housing Market Index missed at 32 versus 34 expected.