What it measures
Retail Sales measures the total value of sales at stores, online retailers, petrol stations, car dealers, restaurants and bars. The calendar shows the change from the previous month, seasonally adjusted.
The figures are in dollars and are not adjusted for price changes, so part of a rise can simply be higher prices.
Who publishes it and when
The Census Bureau publishes the advance estimate about two weeks after the month ends, at 08:30 New York time.
How it is put together
The advance estimate comes from a smaller sample of retailers than the full monthly survey, so it is revised a month later and again in annual updates.
What traders watch
Traders look past the headline at sales excluding cars and petrol, and at the control group, which leaves out cars, petrol, building materials and food services and is used to estimate consumer spending in GDP.
How markets have usually reacted
Strong sales have often supported the dollar and yields and helped stock indices, while weak sales have often had the opposite effect. Car and petrol prices can swing the headline, so the core measures often decide the reaction.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting that the figures include inflation.
- Ignoring the revision to last month, which can cancel out the new number.
How a higher or lower figure is usually read
Higher sales than last month are usually read as supportive for the U.S. dollar; lower sales as negative. Not a signal.
Release history
| Date | Period | Actual | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 0.8% | 1.3% |
Related news
- US Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
- US Consumer Price Index (CPI)
- US Non-Farm Payrolls
- US Durable Goods Orders
- Economic calendar: every release this week in your time zone
- Lot size calculator: keep your risk the same around news
- How to use an economic calendar: what happens around a release, and how to plan for it
Trading involves a high risk of loss. This page is information and education, not advice or a signal to trade. See the Risk Disclaimer.
Official source
This product uses the FRED® API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Calendar data: fred.stlouisfed.org
Published by U.S. Census Bureau: www.census.gov