Retail Sales: how futures reacted
Latest check: 2026-10-13. Verify figures and dates on the agency's site.
What it is
Retail Sales estimates the monthly change in sales at U.S. retail and food-service businesses and is produced by the U.S. Census Bureau. It is released monthly, usually at 08:30 ET; the official schedule is https://www.census.gov/retail/release_schedule.html.
Published by U.S. Census Bureau.
When it comes out
- Usual time: 08:30 ET
- How often: monthly
- Next scheduled dates: Tue, Nov 17, 2026; Wed, Dec 16, 2026
- Official schedule: www.census.gov/retail/release_schedule.html
Past releases
| Date | Actual | Prior | Nasdaq (MNQ) | S&P 500 (MES) | Gold (MGC) | Crude (MCL) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 min | 30 min | 60 min | 5 min | 30 min | 60 min | 5 min | 30 min | 60 min | 5 min | 30 min | 60 min | |||
| 2026-09-16 08:30 ET | 1.2 % m/m | -0.5 % m/m | -21.25 -0.07% | -31.25 -0.11% | -46.50 -0.16% | -2.25 -0.03% | -3.75 -0.05% | -7.25 -0.09% | +0.8 +0.02% | +6.9 +0.16% | +11.8 +0.27% | +0.04 +0.04% | +0.43 +0.41% | +0.38 +0.37% |
| 2026-08-14 08:30 ET | -0.6 % m/m | 0.2 % m/m | No data | |||||||||||
Moves are in index or price points from the price at the release time, with the percentage underneath. Markets: Nasdaq (MNQ), S&P 500 (MES), Gold (MGC), Crude (MCL). Actual and prior are first-print values in % m/m.
Typical reaction
- In the one release since 2026-09-16, Nasdaq (MNQ)'s median 30-minute move was 31.25 points (0.11%). It was up 30 minutes later in 0 of 1.
- In the one release since 2026-09-16, S&P 500 (MES)'s median 30-minute move was 3.75 points (0.05%). It was up 30 minutes later in 0 of 1.
- In the one release since 2026-09-16, Gold (MGC)'s median 30-minute move was 6.9 points (0.16%). It was up 30 minutes later in 1 of 1.
- In the one release since 2026-09-16, Crude (MCL)'s median 30-minute move was 0.43 points (0.41%). It was up 30 minutes later in 1 of 1.
| Market | Releases with data | Median absolute 30-min move | Higher | Lower |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasdaq (MNQ) | 1 | 31.25 pts (0.11%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (100%) |
| S&P 500 (MES) | 1 | 3.75 pts (0.05%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (100%) |
| Gold (MGC) | 1 | 6.9 pts (0.16%) | 1 (100%) | 0 (0%) |
| Crude (MCL) | 1 | 0.43 pts (0.41%) | 1 (100%) | 0 (0%) |
Computed only from our own one-minute prices, measured from the price at the release time. Small samples describe what happened; they do not describe what will happen.
Sources
- Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services releases - checked 2026-10-13
https://www.census.gov/retail/marts/www/marts_current.pdf - Monthly Retail Trade release schedule - checked 2026-10-13
https://www.census.gov/retail/release_schedule.html