The retail sector has been struggling for a long time but has been trying to hold its ground. However, the situation appears to be improving as retail sales made a solid rebound in July on easing price pressures.

The Commerce Department reported last week that retail sales jumped a solid 1% in July after declining 0.2% in June. The July numbers also came in sharply higher than the economists’ expectation of a rise of 0.3%.

Retail sales, excluding gasoline, food, building materials and automobiles grew 0.3% month over month in July after rising 0.9% in June. On a year-over-year basis, retail sales climbed 2.7% in July, while total sales from May through July rose 2.4% from the year-ago levels.

July’s increase in retail sales was driven by a robust 3.6% rise in sales at motor vehicle and auto parts dealers. Electronics and appliance store sales grew by 1.6% in July.

Online sales saw a 0.2% rise in July, following a 2.2% increase in June. The strong consumer spending helped boost retail sales in July, potentially easing recession concerns that had been raised earlier in the month due to a disappointing jobs report and a rise in the unemployment rate.

Inflation has been slowing over the past quarter, with a slight uptick in the consumer price index (CPI) in July. The CPI increased by 2.9% year over year in July, down from a 3% increase in June. This marked the slowest pace of increase since March 2021.

The impressive retail sales report and a decline in inflation have raised hopes that the Fed will start its rate cuts in September. Investors are expecting at least a 100-basis-point rate cut this year.

Lower interest rates bode well for the retail sector and the broader economy.

3 Best Choices

We have selected three mutual funds with significant exposure to the retail and discretionary sectors. The funds carry either a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and are poised to gain from the above factors. Moreover, these funds have encouraging three and five-year returns. Additionally, the minimum initial investment is within $5000.

We expect these funds to outperform their peers in the future. Remember, the goal of the Zacks Mutual Fund Rank is to guide investors in identifying potential winners and losers. Unlike most fund-rating systems, the Zacks Mutual Fund Rank is not just focused on past performance but also the likely future success of the fund.

The question here is: why should investors consider mutual funds? Reduced transaction costs and diversification of portfolio without several commission charges that are associated with stock purchases are primarily why one should be parking money in mutual funds (read more: Mutual Funds: Advantages, Disadvantages, and How They Make Investors Money).

Fidelity Select Consumer Staples Portfolio (FDFAX Quick QuoteFDFAX - Free Report) fund aims for capital growth. FDFAX invests the majority of its assets in securities of companies primarily engaged in manufacturing, marketing, or distribution of consumer staples products. Fidelity Select Consumer Staples Portfolio fund invests in both U.S. and non-U.S. issuers.

Fidelity Select Consumer Staples Portfolio has a history of positive total returns for more than 10 years. Specifically, FDFAX has returned 4.1% and 8% over the past three and five-year periods, respectively. FDFAX has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2 and an annual expense ratio of 0.72%, which is lower than the category average of 0.94%.

To see how this fund performed compared to its category, and other 1 and 2 Ranked Mutual Funds, please click here.

Fidelity Select Retailing Portfolio (FSRPX Quick QuoteFSRPX - Free Report) fund aims for capital appreciation. FSRPX invests a large portion of its assets in the common stock of companies engaged in merchandising finished goods and services, primarily to individual consumers.

Fidelity Select Retailing Portfolio fund has a history of positive total returns for more than 10 years. Specifically, FSRPX has returned nearly 0.8% and 12.4% over the past three and five-year periods, respectively. Fidelity Select Retailing Portfolio fund has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 and an annual expense ratio of 0.71%, which is lower than the category average of 0.99%.

To see how this fund performed compared to its category, and other 1 and 2 Ranked Mutual Funds, please click here.

Fidelity Select Leisure Portfolio (FDLSX Quick QuoteFDLSX - Free Report) fund invests the majority of its assets in common stocks of companies principally engaged in the design, production, or distribution of goods or services in the leisure industries. FDLSX uses fundamental analysis of factors such as each issuer's financial condition and industry position, as well as market and economic conditions, for its decisions.

Fidelity Select Leisure & Entertainment fund has a history of positive total returns for more than 10 years. Specifically, FDLSX has returned nearly 7.3% and 10.7% over the past three and five-year periods, respectively. FDLSX has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #2 and an annual expense ratio of 0.73%, which is lower than the category average of 0.99%.

To see how this fund performed compared to its category, and other 1 and 2 Ranked Mutual Funds, please click here.

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