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Retail Sales

Why should you care about retail sales figures?

The monthly retail sales report is a key measure of economic health, and is particularly valued because it tracks activity in close to real time, reporting the previous month’s sales, unlike many economic indicators, which come out months after the activity being measured occurred. Retail sales are considered a good proxy for consumer spending, which represents nearly two-thirds of the U.S. gross domestic product. As a result, policy makers and investors watch retail sales figures closely to assess the near-term prospects for economic growth and inflation.

Investors pay close attention to the indicator to see how actual sales compare with expectations. Better-than-expected sales figures may push stock prices higher if investors have been concerned about an economic slump. But the same positive report may instead lead to a sell-off if investors are worried that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates to fight inflation. Follow the links below to learn more.

Editor's Pick

  • Discount Detox (Video)

    With many stores offering discounts, consumers are reaping the benefits of the recession. But retailers can't sustain discounts forever.

  • Behind the Number

    For a quick overview of the monthly retail sales report and a look at its strengths and weaknesses, stop here first.

  • Why Investors Watch Sales

    Retail sales are watched closely by investors for clues to future market behavior. Learn what impact the indicator can have on the Dow.

  • The Month at a Glance

    The U.S. Census Bureau releases its monthly retail sales report around the 13th of each month. Find the latest report here.

  • A Historical Look

    The Federal Reserve Bank of New York tracks the quarterly change in retail sales, providing a snapshot of one component of economic growth and contraction over time.

Sort By

  • Retail Sales Beat Last Year's Weak Turnout, But Are Still In a Slump

    Each week, watchers of the retail industry release two different flash reports on the latest sales. The reports, out Thursday, show that late October showed the best numbers in over a year, but as we've seen in housing, car sales, manufacturing, and just about everywhere else, the credit crisis...

    Blog posts | Nov 5, 2009

  • Retail Sales Are Still Hampered by Credit Crunch

    Retail sales rose slightly last month, but the trend is a lot less positive than the figures suggest. It's a case of things not being as scary as some analysts expected, but is that really a sign of improvement? Sales at stores open a year or more climbed 0.6 percent, according to Thompson...

    Blog posts | Oct 8, 2009

  • Earnings Watch: Big Banks You Own

    On tap this week: Earnings reports from four big financial institutions, including two that taxpayers own big stakes in. MoneyWatch's Jill Schlesinger tells us which numbers to watch.

    Videos | Oct 12, 2009

  • 12th Straight Drop in Retail Sales

    Overall sales were better than expected though, with discounters picking up new customers. Wall Street rose slightly as it awaited Friday's employment data.

    Videos | Sep 3, 2009

  • Weak Retail Sales Show Economy is Still Near Bottom

    Weak retail sales continue to bedevil the economy. About the only good news coming out of the retail sector is that sales were not as bad as everyone expected. Retail sales in August fell by an average of 2.9 percent compared to a year ago. That was marginally better than the 3.8 percent...

    Blog posts | Sep 3, 2009

  • Nesting: Watch Out for Sales Gimmicks

    Toys "R" Us wants you to think that it cares deeply about your baby's safety. Starting on August 28th, the retailer is running a "Great Trade-In" event encouraging parents to exchange used cribs, car seats, high chairs, strollers and other baby gear for a 20% coupon on new replacement products....

    Blog posts | Aug 28, 2009

  • What's Next for the Markets?

    With a roaring rally over the past few months, stocks have erased nearly half of their bear market losses. Can the good times keep on rolling? Or will investors have their hearts broken once again? We asked three experts for their predictions.With the numbers on your brokerage statement actually...

    Articles | Aug 20, 2009

  • David Winters: Stock Market Isn’t Out of the Woods Yet

    A veteran value manager discusses why a recovery is still a ways off, what you should do with your portfolio now, and where he sees good buys today (hint: it’s not in the U.S.). Here he discusses the market’s recent activity, what you should do with your portfolio now, and why...

    Articles | Aug 19, 2009

  • Economy Improves, But Retail Sales Show Weakness

    The Federal Reserve upgraded the U.S. economy's performance by a notch this week, but an unexpected decline in retail sales showed that consumers are still wary of opening their wallets to power a more sustainable recovery. The Fed said in a statement that "economic activity is leveling out,"...

    Blog posts | Aug 13, 2009

  • The Economy is Scraping Along the Bottom

    Many economic analysts took comfort this week from the fact that initial jobless claims were down, but there was also a lot of evidence that we're still scraping along. Sure, it's good to know we actually have hit bottom - for a time in January the economy was in freefall --  but it's too soon...

    Blog posts | Aug 6, 2009

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