Introduction
The growth in any economy is primarily driven by the growth of retail sales to households. For this reason, monitoring retail sales data can be the most suitable way of gauging if the economy is expanding or not. In most national retail sales data, the data is collected through surveys. However, having an index solely based on the growth of same-store sales can help provide a more accurate sense of growth in the retail industry.
Understanding US Redbook
Redbook Research Inc. is an American company primarily dealing with market research on the momentum of retail sales, macro and quantitative analysis, and consumer demand factors in public and private retail sectors. The company publishes the Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index, also known as the US Redbook, which is considered one of the most respected proprietary indicators on retail sales in the US.
The Redbook index measures the growth in the US retail sector. The index uses a sales-weighted of the year-over-year growth in sales of the same store. About 9000 large general merchandise stores primarily operating in the US retail sector are sampled. When these sampled stores’ monetary value is measured, their combined output accounts for about 80% of the national retail sales. Note that in the US, the official government retail sales data is compiled and released by the Department of Commerce.
The Redbook index is published weekly. In this publication, the report extensively analyses and explains the current trends in retail sales and the economy. Since households’ demand is highly elastic, the weekly US Redbook publication can capture the most recent trends in consumer demand. Thus, the Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index provides advance data on the trends in retail sales in the US.
In this report, the comprehensive analysis covers the sales in the current month, the quarterly sales, year-on-year and annual sales, company rankings, and data on historical sales. The 9000 retailers are categorized into; Apparel Specialty, Sporting Goods, Home Improvement, Home Furnishings, Books, Toy & Hobby, Department, Discount, Footwear, Furniture, Drug, Electronic, Jewellery, and Miscellaneous.
Using US Redbook in Analysis
We have already established that the US Redbook’s retail index provides a comprehensive and advance trend in household consumption patterns.
When the weekly US Redbook retail index increases, it means that households’ consumption is on the rise. At its core, higher levels of consumption are driven by increased disposable income in the economy. An increase in household consumption means that there is a general increase in demand in the economy. When households’ demand increases, it could mean that the economy’s unemployment levels have reduced. Since more people are gainfully employed, there is increased disposable income for households, hence the increase in consumption represented by the rise in the Redbook index. Similarly, it could also mean that wages received by households are increasing, which increases disposable income.
Conversely, when the weekly Redbook retail index drops, it means that households have reduced disposable income. The reduction in disposable income could directly result from increasing levels of unemployment or a reduction in wages received by households. With less disposable income, people will be forced to cut back on their consumption. In both these cases, the US Redbook retail index increase implies that the economy is expanding; conversely, a drop in the index shows that the economy is contracting.
Source: Trading Economics
The US Redbook retail index can also be used as a precursor to economic recessions and recoveries. We already know that the majority of growth in the economy is driven by consumer demand. It is estimated that household consumption accounts for up to 70% of economic growth. Now, picture this. When the consumer demand is consistently dropping, suffice to say the GDP should also be expected to drop significantly. This period will be marked by a reduction in production and increased unemployment levels. Note that recession is described as a consistent drop in GDP for two successive quarters.
Source: St. Louis FRED
At the onset of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, the weekly US Redbook retail index continuously dropped. From the period between March to May, the index dropped steadily. This period coincided with a drop in the US GDP. Due to the nationwide imposed lockdowns and social distancing rules, unemployment surged to historic highs of 14.7%. Naturally, demand in the economy was depressed.
In times of recessions, the US Redbook retail index can be handy in changes in household consumption. Policymakers can implement several expansionary policies meant to stimulate the economy. Since the official government retail sales data is published monthly, the US Redbook can be used to show any immediate response by households. The US Redbook index can therefore be used to show if the expansionary policies are working as they are expected to. One such instance can be seen after the US government implemented the 2020 stimulus package worth $2 trillion. The US Redbook retail index can be seen to be rising from the lowest points of May 2020.
Impact of US Redbook on USD
When the US Redbook retail index increases, we can expect the USD to appreciate relative to other currencies in the Forex market. A consistently rising index implies that the economy is steadily expanding, the unemployment rate is falling, and there is a general increase in money in the economy. In such a situation, governments and central banks might step in with contractionary fiscal and monetary policies. These policies are meant to prevent the economy from overheating and avoid unsustainable inflation levels due to the increase in the money supply. Such policies make domestic currency appreciate.
Conversely, a dropping US Redbook retail index shows that the general economy might be contracting. Consequently, expansionary fiscal and monetary policies like lowering interest rates might be implemented to stimulate the economy. Such policies make the domestic depreciate relative to others.
Sources of Data
Redbook Research Inc. published the weekly, monthly, and annual US Redbook Retail Sales Index. In-depth and historical data on the US Redbook Index is available at Trading Economics.
How US Redbook Index Release Affects The Forex Price Charts
Redbook Research Inc. published Retail Sales Index the latest data on October 20, 2020, at 8.55 AM EST. The news release can be accessed at Investing.com. This release is expected to have a low impact on the USD.
The MoM index increased by 1.0% in the latest publication compared to 0.4% in the previous reading. Similarly, the YoY index showed an increase of 2.5% compared to the previous 1.2%.
Let’s find out if this release has an impact on the USD.
EUR/USD: Before US Redbook Release on October 20, 2020, just before 8.55 AM EST
Before the release of the US Redbook data, the EUR/USD pair was trading in an almost neutral trend. The 20-period MA is seen to be flattening with candles forming just around it.
EUR/USD: After US Redbook Release on October 20, 2020, at 8.55 AM EST
The EUR/USD pair formed a 5-minute bearish candle immediately after the publication of the US Redbook report. Subsequently, the pair continued trading in the earlier observed subdued uptrend.
Bottom Line
This article has established that the US Redbook report is a crucial leading indicator of retail sales and consumer demand. However, in the forex market, its significance is diminished since most traders pay close attention to the US Department of Commerce’s monthly retail sales data.