Journal Article

F.Y.I.: testing the informativeness of regional and local retail sales data

Abstract: A large collection of published and unpublished retail sales estimates produced by the U.S. Department of Commerce provides potentially valuable current and historical estimates and industry detail for several regions of the country dating back to 1978. Analysts may find these data particularly useful as supplements to published data in monitoring retail spending in some states and metropolitan statistical areas. ; This article examines whether the breadth of detail the data offer can offset such limitations as small sample size and volatility. The author analyzes the information provided by augmenting published data with unpublished data for its usefulness in predicting regional employment. The research suggests that regional and metro retail sales data can aid researchers as well as others in the business of local economic analysis.

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Part of Series: Economic Review

Publication Date: 1995

Volume: 80

Issue: Jul

Pages: 39-49