1) What Exactly Is Retail Sales?
The U.S. Census Bureau releases Advance Monthly Retail & Food Services Sales around the middle of each month at 8:30 ET. It’s nominal dollar sales across retailers and food services—no inflation adjustment, no services ex-food, and it’s volatile. Think of it as the tape of Main Street: autos, gasoline stations, general merchandise, restaurants, nonstore (e-commerce), building materials, and more.