Retail sales measure the total receipts from all stores that sell merchandise and related products to final consumers. This helps to track consumer demand for durable and non-durable goods over a specified time frame. The retail sales data is compiled monthly by the US Census Bureau, and is also reported through the many other economic calendars.

Patterns in consumer spending inform total consumer demand, which has great influence on the stock and bond markets. Should retail sales fall, it would indicate a drop in demand, foretelling potential economic contraction. Consumers generally buy more when they feel confident in the economy and its future.

Total retail sales are generally divided into different sections, usually by durability. These include: apparel, department stores, food and beverage stores, electronics and appliances, furniture stores, gas stations, and car dealers

Understanding the movements in consumer demand across these different industries can help investors know when, where, and how to invest across the stock market, and provide clues to the Federal Reserve and other parties on the future movements of the economy.

Alternative forecasts and historical data can be found through these sources:

FXstreet

MQL5

Markets Insider

Briefing.com

Financial Forecast Center

Investing.com

Trading Economics

What will the total retail sales including food services be for September 2021?

This resolves as the absolute value for total retail sales including food services for September 2021. Resolution criteria will be provided through the US Census Bureau on their monthly retail trade reports. It will include all retail sales including food services. If this data is no longer collected or posted, this question will resolve ambiguously.