Hey there from CNN, I'm Chris Debeau with the five things you need to know for

Thursday, August 15th. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to appear with

President Joe Biden today on the campaign trail for the first time since he dropped out and she may need to do some delicate footwork

The event in Maryland is supposed to highlight the administration's efforts to lower prescription drug costs for American families.

But this joint appearance is also an early preview of how she plans to navigate

Biden's unpopular economic record.

Harris AIDS tells CNN they don't expect her to carry the banner of

biodynamics even though their vision for the economy is very similar.

Advisors say the difference will be an emphasis.

For example, she plans to hone in on price gouging during her big economic policy speech tomorrow in North Carolina, calling for a federal ban on the practice.

She's expected to also lay out plans for housing and drug prices. Economic policies are sure to be topics of the first

VP debate, which is now officially set for October 1st on CBS between GOP candidate

J.D. Vance and his Democratic counterpart, Tim Walls.

Q the hayb expender music.

Retail sales are suddenly increasing in the latest show of the U.S. economy's strength.

The Commerce Department reports sales at U.S. retailers rose by a solid 1% in July compared

to the month before, when economists expected a gain of only 0.3%. Amid a slowing job market, high interest rates, and lingering

inflation, consumers are resilient and still spending money on things like

cars, electronics, and grocery stores.

CNN's Julia Chatterley explains how this trend fits with how Walmart, the biggest

retailer in the US is doing compared to places like Starbucks and McDonald's.

So a 22% rise in US digital sales, their store sales were up 4.2%.

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