Retail sales dropped as paychecks lag inflation, U.S. sailors aboard Middle East-deployed warships face contaminated water and food shortages, and primary polling proves unreliable with misses of 13+ percentage points, raising questions about poll accuracy heading into the midterms. Average wages rose just 3.2% over 12 months while paychecks now buy less than a year ago, reversing three years of wage gains outpacing inflation.