Description
U.S. Retail Sales are calculated and published by the U.S. Census Bureau through the Advance Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MARTS), Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS), Annual Retail Trade Survey (ARTS), and Quarterly E-Commerce Report. Due to noise or seasonal factors in the month-over-month rate, the year-over-year rate is often used to assess the health of consumer spending. An increase in retail sales typically indicates stronger consumer spending and a healthy economy, while a decrease suggests weaker demand and potential economic challenges.
This data surveys approximately 12,000 US retail businesses each month, covering sectors such as automotive sales, food and beverage stores, clothing stores, electronics and appliance stores, furniture and home furnishings stores, healthcare and personal care stores, dining and beverage establishments, department stores, and other retailers.
The retail sales data is usually released mid-month, providing information on the sales changes for the previous month.