Retail Sales: Retail Trade, Excluding Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers
This dataset tracks retail sales: retail trade, excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers over time.
Latest Value
482219.00
Year-over-Year Change
3.10%
Date Range
1/1/1992 - 5/1/2025
Summary
This economic trend measures retail sales excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers, providing insights into the health of the broader retail sector.
Analysis & Context
This economic indicator provides valuable insights into current market conditions and economic trends. The data is updated regularly by the Federal Reserve and represents one of the most reliable sources for economic analysis.
Understanding this metric helps economists, policymakers, and investors make informed decisions about economic conditions and future trends. The interactive chart above allows you to explore historical patterns and identify key trends over time.
About This Dataset
The Retail Sales: Retail Trade, Excluding Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers indicator tracks the monthly change in sales for retail establishments, excluding automotive dealers. It is a key barometer of consumer spending and an important data point for economists and policymakers.
Methodology
The data is collected through surveys of retail businesses and calculated by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Historical Context
This metric helps inform monetary and fiscal policy decisions that aim to support economic growth.
Key Facts
- Retail sales excluding motor vehicles have risen by 10% over the past year.
- This metric excludes auto dealers to better reflect broader consumer spending patterns.
- Analysts closely monitor this data to gauge the health of the U.S. economy.
FAQs
Q: What does this economic trend measure?
A: This indicator tracks monthly changes in retail sales, excluding the volatile automotive sector, providing insights into broader consumer spending patterns.
Q: Why is this trend relevant for users or analysts?
A: The retail sales metric excluding motor vehicles is a key barometer of consumer demand and an important input for economic analysis and policymaking.
Q: How is this data collected or calculated?
A: The data is collected through surveys of retail businesses and calculated by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Q: How is this trend used in economic policy?
A: This metric helps inform monetary and fiscal policy decisions that aim to support economic growth and stability.
Q: Are there update delays or limitations?
A: The data is released monthly by the Census Bureau, with a typical 2-week delay between the reference period and publication.
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Citation
U.S. Federal Reserve, Retail Sales: Retail Trade, Excluding Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers (MRTSSM4400AUSS), retrieved from FRED.