US retail sales
How much Americans spent in shops last month.
The basics
Consumer spending is about two-thirds of the US economy. Retail sales show how much people spent in shops, online and at restaurants.
How to read the result
- Above the forecast
- Spending above the forecast often lifts the US dollar.
- Below the forecast
- Spending below the forecast often weakens the US dollar.
Going deeper
Figures are not adjusted for prices, so high inflation flatters them. The “control group”, excluding cars, fuel, building materials and food services, feeds into GDP and is watched most closely.
FAQs
- Why can the price move the “wrong” way?
- Prices already reflect the forecast, so markets react to the surprise, not the number itself. Other parts of the same release, revisions to earlier months or other news in the same hour can outweigh the headline figure, and a first move often reverses within the hour.
- Should I close my trade before the release?
- That is your decision; this page does not give advice. What is certain is that prices can jump in seconds around big releases, spreads widen, and a stop loss can close at a worse price than the one you set. Many traders check their position size and stop before the release.