Retail sales measure the total dollar value of goods sold by US retail stores, restaurants and other retail establishments in a given month, published by the US Census Bureau from a monthly survey of roughly 13,000 employer firms, first conducted in its modern form since 1951. Because consumer spending drives roughly two-thirds of US GDP, retail sales is one of the most timely and closely watched monthly gauges of economic momentum, with the core figure excluding volatile autos and gasoline stations often emphasized by economists as a cleaner read on underlying consumer demand.
Facts
Classification
Release Frequency Timing Class Geography
Geographic Scope In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Census Bureau, Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services
Page title
Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services
Report summary paragraph
Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales
View the Source2. US Leading Indicators (The Conference Board)
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