Retail sales
MacroDefinition
Monthly Census Bureau release of US retail and food services sales. Captures roughly half of total consumer spending. "Control group" (ex-autos, gas, building materials, food services) feeds directly into GDP estimates.
Two ways to read it: the headline print in the news is the month-over-month change (a +0.3% kind of number), while the US Economic Calendar on this site shows year-over-year growth, which smooths out the monthly noise and is the better read on consumer strength. Watched closely for signs of consumer weakening, which tends to precede recessions.
Two ways to read it: the headline print in the news is the month-over-month change (a +0.3% kind of number), while the US Economic Calendar on this site shows year-over-year growth, which smooths out the monthly noise and is the better read on consumer strength. Watched closely for signs of consumer weakening, which tends to precede recessions.
Example
A "retail sales +3.5% y/y" reading means Americans spent 3.5% more at retailers and restaurants than in the same month a year earlier, before adjusting for inflation.
Related tool
Open the calendar tool on Arsenal.finance →