Stock futures traded higher on Thursday after a report on retail-sales activity in September once again surpassed economists' expectations. Retail sales increased 0.4% in September, climbing 0.

Retail sales rose last month by 0.4% as spending at clothing shops, restaurants and grocery stores jumped, the Commerce Department said on Thursday. Why it matters: Consumer spending is the bedrock of the U.

U.S. retail sales climbed more than expected in September, with a 0.4% month-over-month increase. Core retail sales were up 0.5% vs. +0.1% consensus and +0.2% in August. The food and beverage store category (+1.

U.S. stock index futures extended gains on Thursday after a larger-than-expected rise in monthly retail sales pointed to a healthy U.S. consumer. Retail sales rose 0.4% in September on a monthly basis,

(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures gained on Thursday, with an upbeat forecast from TSMC lifting semiconductor stocks, while investors awaited key economic data for clues on the financial health of the U.S. consumer.

Stock index futures were higher on Thursday, with Nasdaq futures leading the pack, after strong results from Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) and robust retail sales, helped revive investor sentiments.  S&P 500 futures (SPX) +0.