Description: Dollar amount spent by consumers last month

Released: Mid-month

Calculation: Dollar figures are established by adding receipts from all sales less merchandise returned at both small and large retailers across the country. The dollar figure is not annualized—the number you see is the amount that was spent that month.

Key Point: This indicator is extremely important because retail sales make up 1/3 of consumer spending which makes up 70% of all economic activity. The retail sales number tends to have a strong impact on the market.

Release site: Click here