Retail Sales
A monthly measure of how much shoppers spent at stores and online, a key read on consumer demand.
Retail sales adds up what consumers spent at shops, car dealers, restaurants, petrol stations and online retailers during the month. In consumer-driven economies like the US and UK, it is one of the clearest signals of whether people feel confident enough to open their wallets.
Traders often focus on the "control group" or "core" figure, which strips out volatile items like cars and fuel. A strong surprise can lift a currency by boosting rate-hike expectations; a weak one can do the opposite.
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