Retail Sales Data

Retail sales data measures the total value of goods sold by retailers over a month and is one of the timeliest available gauges of consumer demand. Because household spending accounts for a large share of output in most developed economies, the release feeds directly into growth forecasts. Currency markets watch both the headline figure and the core or control measure, which strips out volatile items such as fuel and vehicles. A strong retail sales print supports the case for tighter policy and can lift the currency, while a weak one does the opposite. Revisions to earlier months matter as well, and the data appears on a fixed schedule listed in the economic calendar.