Sales - Retail & Food Services
Returns total retail and food services sales from FRED. This is a key indicator of consumer spending.
Data Source
Data is sourced from the Census Bureau via FRED, reported monthly.
Notes
- Nominal (not inflation-adjusted) values
- Includes motor vehicle dealers, food stores, restaurants
- Monthly indicator of consumer spending
Syntax
=SalesRetailFood()Examples
Retail and food services sales
When to Use
- Retail sector analysis
- Consumer spending trends
- Economic health assessment
- Retail stock research
When NOT to Use
| Scenario | Use Instead |
|---|---|
| Real (inflation-adjusted) | RealPersonalConsumptionExpenditure() |
| Specific retail category | FRED direct access |
| E-commerce only | FRED direct access |
Common Issues & FAQ
Is this adjusted for inflation?
No, this is nominal sales. Use PCE for real (inflation-adjusted) data.
What's included in retail sales?
All retail stores plus food services and drinking places.
