Retail Sales (MoM)
Tue · Dec 1 · 8:30 AM ET
Release history
| Period | Actual | Prior | S&P that day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 0.8% | 1.3% | -0.7% |
| Aug 2026 | 1.3% | -0.4% | +1.4% |
| Jul 2026 | -0.4% | 0.2% | -0.1% |
| Jun 2026 | 0.2% | 1% | +0.3% |
| May 2026 | 1% | 0.6% | +0.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 0.6% | 1.7% | +0.8% |
| Mar 2026 | 1.7% | 0.9% | +0.1% |
| Feb 2026 | 0.9% | -0.6% | +0.5% |
“S&P that day” = S&P 500 (SPY) close-to-close move on the release date — a proxy for the market’s reaction.
What is Retail Sales?
Retail Sales, reported monthly by the Census Bureau, measures the total dollar value of sales at U.S. retail stores and restaurants — a direct read on how much consumers are spending.
Why it moves markets
Consumer spending drives roughly two-thirds of U.S. GDP, so retail sales is a real-time pulse on demand. Strong sales signal a resilient economy and support corporate revenues; weak sales raise recession and earnings worries.
How to read it
Focus on the month-over-month (MoM) change and the "control group" (which feeds GDP). Beating expectations is generally risk-on; a sharp miss can spook cyclical and consumer-discretionary stocks.
Upcoming releases
Times in U.S. Eastern (ET). Economic data from official sources (FRED); schedules and AI estimates may change. For information only — not investment advice.