^GSPC$7,391.70-1.20%^IXIC$24,812.55-1.51%^DJI$42,354.14-1.08%^VIX$26.92+0.90%^STOXX50E$65.92-2.04%BTC-USD$79,056.14-2.50%ETH-USD$2,224.71-2.57%SOL-USD$89.23-3.15%AAPL$300.23+0.68%MSFT$421.92+3.05%NVDA$225.32-4.42%TSLA$422.24-4.75%META$614.23-0.68%GOOGL$396.78-1.07%AMZN$264.14-1.15%AMD$424.10-5.69%EURUSD$1.1625-0.01%GC$4,537.85-0.05%CL$101.14-0.84%^GSPC$7,391.70-1.20%^IXIC$24,812.55-1.51%^DJI$42,354.14-1.08%^VIX$26.92+0.90%^STOXX50E$65.92-2.04%BTC-USD$79,056.14-2.50%ETH-USD$2,224.71-2.57%SOL-USD$89.23-3.15%AAPL$300.23+0.68%MSFT$421.92+3.05%NVDA$225.32-4.42%TSLA$422.24-4.75%META$614.23-0.68%GOOGL$396.78-1.07%AMZN$264.14-1.15%AMD$424.10-5.69%EURUSD$1.1625-0.01%GC$4,537.85-0.05%CL$101.14-0.84%
RockstarMarkets
All glossary
Macro

Retail sales

Monthly US retail-spending report. ~30% of GDP. Released ~2 weeks after the corresponding month at 8:30am ET.

What it means

Retail sales report measures monthly change in total US retail spending across categories (autos, food, clothing, electronics, etc.). Released by Census Bureau approximately 2 weeks after the corresponding month at 8:30am ET. Retail spending makes up roughly 30% of US GDP; the report is one of the most important monthly indicators of consumer health and current-quarter GDP growth.

Why it matters

Strong retail sales signal consumer health and inflation pressure (more demand can push prices higher); weak signals slowdown. The 'control group' (excluding autos, gasoline, and building materials) is most informative because it strips out volatile categories. Markets react to surprise direction vs consensus.

How to use it

Watch the control group MoM change (more informative than headline). Compare to consensus. Strong control group + hot wages + tight labor = hawkish stack; weak retail sales softens that. Connect to GDPNow tracker for current-quarter implications.

Take it further

Want a worked example or a deeper dive? Ask Rocky how this concept applies to your specific watchlist or trade idea.

Ask Rocky