Calculated by comparing U.S. Total Retail Sales values to the year before.
2008-2009 were challenging years for retailers. The financial market meltdown that began in the fall 2008 dramatically reduced consumers’ discretionary spending power, resulting in the first quarter of negative growth. It took a year to restore to a growing retail market.
Last reported quarter 2024 Q2 it was 1.9%, up by 214% year-over-year from 0.6%.