Definition of Retail Sales

The retail sales Y-on-Y is an aggregated measure of the sales of retail goods over a stated period. Because retail sales are a measure of consumer demand for finished goods, they are a leading macroeconomic indicator of the pulse of an economy and its projected path toward expansion or contraction. Retail sales Y-on-Y is calculated as the percent change in the Retail sales index from the same month the previous year. The Retail sales Y-on-Y measures only volume changes, i.e. price level changes are excluded.