CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor Overview
The CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions, offers a monthly insight into retail sales performance. It leverages data from over 140 million credit and debit cards, encompassing nearly nine billion transactions totaling over $500 billion in annual spending.
Key Metrics
Sector Insights
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Building & Garden Supplies:
- August '24: -2.92%
- September '24: -4.25%
- October '24: 3.12%
-
Clothing & Accessories:
- August '24: 11.44%
- September '24: 10.31%
- October '24: 8.56%
-
Electronics & Appliances:
- August '24: -2.54%
- September '24: -1.63%
- October '24: -0.64%
-
Food Services & Drinking Places:
- August '24: 2.90%
- September '24: -1.13%
- October '24: 2.07%
-
Furniture & Home Furnishings:
- August '24: -2.57%
- September '24: -4.80%
- October '24: 1.87%
-
General Merchandise:
- August '24: 1.94%
- September '24: 2.09%
- October '24: 5.51%
-
Grocery & Beverage:
- August '24: 2.53%
- September '24: 0.42%
- October '24: 3.76%
-
Health & Personal Care:
- August '24: 6.69%
- September '24: 4.82%
- October '24: 8.35%
-
Non-store Retailers:
- August '24: 17.03%
- September '24: 15.21%
- October '24: 19.38%
-
Sporting Goods, Hobby, Music & Book Stores:
- August '24: -10.78%
- September '24: -9.46%
- October '24: -1.23%
Year-Over-Year Changes
-
Total Retail Sales (Excluding Gas & Auto):
- August '24: 2.53%
- September '24: 0.42%
- October '24: 3.76%
-
Core Retail Sales (Excluding Gas, Auto, & Restaurants):
- August '24: 6.69%
- September '24: 4.82%
- October '24: 8.35%
Methodology
- The Retail Monitor uses the same seasonalization approach as the U.S. Census Bureau and is highly correlated with Census' revised retail sales.
- It provides near real-time views of retail sales and bypasses the revision process required for survey-based tools.
- Data from Affinity Solutions is anonymized and aggregated, ensuring no personal identifiable information is included.
Conclusion
The CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions, offers a comprehensive and timely view of retail sales trends across various sectors, providing insights into both monthly and yearly growth. This tool leverages large-scale transaction data to offer a more accurate and timely reflection of retail performance compared to traditional survey-based methods.
