Retail Sales: Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
This dataset tracks retail sales: hobby, toy, and game stores over time.
Latest Value
1641.00
Year-over-Year Change
15.48%
Date Range
1/1/1992 - 6/1/2025
Summary
The Retail Sales: Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores trend measures consumer spending at specialty retailers selling hobby, toy, and game products in the United States. It is an important indicator of discretionary consumer demand.
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
This economic indicator tracks monthly sales at stores primarily engaged in retailing new hobby, toy, and game merchandise. It provides insights into consumer confidence and spending patterns in the recreational goods sector, which can inform broader economic analysis.
Methodology
The data is collected through monthly surveys of a representative sample of U.S. retail businesses.
Historical Context
Retail sales data is widely used by policymakers, analysts, and investors to assess the health of the consumer economy.
Key Facts
- Hobby, toy, and game stores account for over $32 billion in annual U.S. retail sales.
- Sales at these stores grew by 7.3% in 2022 compared to the prior year.
- The category includes brick-and-mortar specialty retailers as well as online sales.
FAQs
Q: What does this economic trend measure?
A: The Retail Sales: Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores trend measures monthly sales at U.S. stores primarily engaged in retailing new hobby, toy, and game merchandise.
Q: Why is this trend relevant for users or analysts?
A: This indicator provides insights into consumer demand for discretionary recreational goods, which can inform broader assessments of the health of the consumer economy.
Q: How is this data collected or calculated?
A: The data is collected through monthly surveys of a representative sample of U.S. retail businesses.
Q: How is this trend used in economic policy?
A: Retail sales data, including this hobby and toy store category, is widely used by policymakers, analysts, and investors to assess the state of consumer spending and the broader economy.
Q: Are there update delays or limitations?
A: The data is released with a short lag, typically 1-2 months after the reference period, and may be subject to periodic revisions.
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Citation
U.S. Federal Reserve, Retail Sales: Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores (MRTSSM45112USN), retrieved from FRED.