This morning’s retail sales report was so powerful, it got the Atlanta Fed to lift its 4Q 2017 GDP estimate to 3.3% from 2.9%, and I still think that’s a very low number.

The problem for the market is the anxiety over the GOP tax bill, which is a nail biter with up to five Republican Senators voicing concerns.  Throw into the mix the scuttlebutt that Speaker Ryan is going to call it quits, and there is a lot of concern about Washington, D.C. on the precipice of spiraling out of control.

At midday, the only major market still in the green is the Nasdaq.  Decliners outpaced advancers 1533/1354 on the NYSE and 1591/1243 on the Nasdaq.  Consumer Discretionary and Technology are strong today while Healthcare, Industrials, Materials and Telecom Services lag.