U.S. Retail And Food Services Sales Report for APRIL 2026

The Commerce Department this morning released advance estimates of U.S. Retail and Food Services Sales for APRIL, 2026:

=================

Previous Month (revised): +1.63% (+$12,092,000,000)

• Actual: +0.49% (+$3,715,000,000)

=================

The highlighted percentage above represents the month-to-month, seasonally adjusted change in total sales receipts for retailers that sell durable and non-durable goods, and retailers that provide food and beverage services.

=================

• Est. Retail Sales During April, 2026: $757,085,000,000

• Year-On-Year Change: +4.87% (+$35,182,000,000)

=================

 

 

CHART: Retail Sales - Monthly

February 2006 Thru March 2026
APRIL 2026 UPDATE
=================

• Click here to view the full Commerce Department report.
  
  

=================   

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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of May 9, 2026

Jobless Claims

Earlier today, the Labor Department released its weekly report on New Jobless Insurance Claims for the week that ended on May 9, 2026:

====================
Predicted: 210,000

• Actual: 211,000

====================

The yellow-highlighted figure represents the number of first-time claims for unemployment benefits for the entire United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

 --> Previous Week (revised): 199,000

• 4-Week Moving Average: 203,750

====================

• Click here to view the full Labor Department report

====================

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Crude Oil Inventories Report for Week Ending May 8, 2026

Crude Oil Inventories

The U.S. Crude Oil Inventories report for the week that ended on May 8, 2026 was released this morning:

-- Δ from Last Week: -12,900,000 Barrels (-1.52%)

-- Δ from 1-Year Previous: -4,500,000 Barrels (-0.53%)

-- Current U.S. Crude Oil Stocks: 837,000,000 Barrels

• NB: Δ = Change

Diminishing crude oil inventories often translate to higher crude oil and fuel prices (and vice versa), but not always.

The report is produced by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

• Click Here for the Weekly Crude Oil Price
  
  

• Click Here for A Crude Oil Price Chart
  
  
• Click Here for the FULL (Extended) Weekly Petroleum Status Report
  
  
• Click Here for the Weekly Petroleum Status Report DATA OVERVIEW
  
  
• Click Here for the Weekly Petroleum Status Report HIGHLIGHTS

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Producer Price Index - Final Demand (PPI-FD) for APRIL 2026

Here is the Producer Price Index - Final Demand (PPI-FD) for APRIL, 2026:

===============================
Previous Month (revised): +0.7%

• Actual: +1.4%

Change from 12 months previous:  +6.0% 
(prior - revised = +4.3%)

=============

Below is the PPI-FD when Food, Energy and Trade Services are removed:

Previous Month (unrevised): +0.2% 

• Actual: +0.6%

Change from 12 months previous:  +4.4% 
(prior - revised = +3.7%)

===============================

• PPI-FD Goods, Year-on-Year: +7.4% (prior = +4.9%)

• PPI-FD Services, Year-on-Year: +5.5% (prior = +3.7%)

 

The above, yellow-highlighted percentages represent the month-to-month change in prices received by domestic producers of goods and services, for goods, services and construction in the United States, for final demand.

Final Demand = personal consumption (consumers), exports, government purchases and capital investment.
 
==============

CHART: Producer Price Index

  Final Demand (PPI-FD)
12-Month Percent Change
APRIL 2026 Update

==============

• Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

============== 

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Consumer Price Index (CPI) for APRIL 2026

Earlier this morning, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for April, 2026:

=========================================

CPI During April, 2026: 333.020

=========================================

Consumer Price Index (CPI); Headline

Predicted: +0.9%

->  Actual: +0.85% (+2.807 points)

• Year-on-Year Change: +3.81% (+12.225 points)

[Y-o-Y previous = +3.26%]

=========================================

CPI, Minus Food + Energy (Core CPI)

Predicted: +0.3%

 - > Actual: +0.42% (+1.412 points)

• Year-on-Year Change: +2.75% (+8.988 points)

[Y-o-Y previous = +2.6%]

=========================================

The above, yellow- and blue-highlighted figures represent month-to-month and year-on-year changes (not seasonally adjusted) in prices for a specific group of goods and services that consumers buy, and is, therefore, a very important part of the overall inflation picture for the country.

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

General categories that constitute the CPI are:

• Healthcare
• Housing
• Clothing
• Communications
• Education
• Transportation
• Food and Beverages
• Recreation
• Miscellaneous Goods and Services (grooming expenses, etc.)

========================================

CPI During April, 2025: 320.795

=======================================

CHART: Consumer Price Index

12-Month Percentage Change
APRIL 2026 Update

========================================

• Click here to view the full Labor Department report.
  

========================================

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Crude Oil Inventories Report for Week Ending May 1, 2026

Crude Oil Inventories

The U.S. Crude Oil Inventories report for the week that ended on May 1, 2026 was released this morning:

-- Δ from Last Week: -7,500,000 Barrels (-0.87%)

-- Δ from 1-Year Previous: +12,400,000 Barrels (+1.48%)

-- Current U.S. Crude Oil Stocks: 849,900,000 Barrels

• NB: Δ = Change

Diminishing crude oil inventories often translate to higher crude oil and fuel prices (and vice versa), but not always.

The report is produced by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

• Click Here for the Weekly Crude Oil Price
  
  

• Click Here for A Crude Oil Price Chart
  
  
• Click Here for the FULL (Extended) Weekly Petroleum Status Report
  
  
• Click Here for the Weekly Petroleum Status Report DATA OVERVIEW
  
  
• Click Here for the Weekly Petroleum Status Report HIGHLIGHTS

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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of May 2, 2026

Jobless Claims

Earlier today, the Labor Department released its weekly report on New Jobless Insurance Claims for the week that ended on May 2, 2026:

====================
Predicted: 201,000

• Actual: 200,000

====================

The yellow-highlighted figure represents the number of first-time claims for unemployment benefits for the entire United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

 --> Previous Week (revised): 190,000

• 4-Week Moving Average: 203,250

====================

• Click here to view the full Labor Department report

====================

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Employment Situation Report for APRIL 2026

The Employment Situation Report for April, 2026 was released by The Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning:

Nonfarm Payrolls (month-to-month change)
Actual: +115,000

Previous Month (revised): +185,000

One-Year Previous: +108,000

U-3 Unemployment Rate (Headline)
Actual: 4.3%
Previous Month: 4.3%
12-Months Previous: 4.2%

U-6 Unemployment Rate*
Actual: 8.2%
Previous Month: 8.0%
12-Months Previous: 7.8%

Average Hourly Earnings (month-to-month change)
Predicted: +0.3%
Actual: +0.16% (+$0.06)

Average Hourly Earnings (year-on-year change)
Predicted: +3.5%
Actual: +3.57% (+$1.29)

Average Weekly Earnings (month-to-month change)
Actual: +0.45% (+$5.79)

Average Weekly Earnings (year-on-year change)
Actual: +3.57% (+$44.24)

Civilian Labor Force Participation Rate: 61.8%
Previous Month: 61.9%
12-Months Previous: 62.6%

Average Weekly Hours: 34.3 hours
Previous Month (revised): 34.2 hours
One-Year Previous: 34.3 hours

Economist, academics, central bankers and investors pay very close attention to the monthly Employment Situation report as it offers penetrating insight as to the current and near-future state of the overall U.S. economy. If a) Americans are earning more money and b) the economy is creating new jobs, this typically translates to more money being pumped into the economy (and vice versa.)

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

===================

CHART: Civilian Unemployment Rate

APRIL 2006 thru APRIL 2026

   ===================

 

 * =  The U-6 Unemployment Rate is defined as:

"Total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force."

===================

• Click here to view the full Department of Labor report.

===================

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ISM Manufacturing Index for APRIL 2026

The Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) released their Manufacturing Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI®) for April, 2026:

=========

Predicted: 53.0%

• Actual: 52.7% (month-on-month = FLAT)

=========

Previous month: 52.7%

=========

Every month, the ISM surveys purchasing and supply executives at hundreds of companies across the country who are involved in manufacturing in some form. The resulting index is watched closely by academics, economists and investors because manufacturing accounts for about 12% of U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The PMI is a reliable barometer of U.S. manufacturing: A PMI above 50% implies that U.S. manufacturing expanded during the month specified, while a reading below 50% implies that the made-in-the-USA sector contracted.

=========

From Today's Report:

"...Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in April for the fourth consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest ISM® Manufacturing PMI® Report..."

=========

The Following Is A Sampling Of Quotes
From A Diverse Pool Of U.S. Manufacturers:

•    “Demand for manufactured goods is trending higher versus last year; however, geopolitical uncertainty and rising oil and diesel prices continue to weigh on demand. Many customers are exercising caution and remain in a wait-and-watch mode.”
   [Transportation Equipment] 

• “Continued tariffs on products utilized in our product lines are being monitored by the business, with the business working to mitigate or limit tariff risk. Geopolitical risk, especially in the Middle East, as it pertains to commodity and energy markets remains a concern and is being monitored by the business. Supply chain risk concerns pertaining to increased cost and transit time for rerouted shipments due to conflict in the Red Sea, Strait of Hormuz and Suez Canal. These conditions are being monitored by the business and rerouting measures have been implemented where possible.”
   [Transportation Equipment] 

• “Continuing fluctuation in U.S. tariffs as well as market constraints for certain materials are affecting our current business. U.S. support of AI-related industry is also in flux which is causing some customer and investment hesitancy.”
   [Computer & Electronic Products] 

• “All products tied to crude, polyethylene resin or energy (liquified natural gas) have seen multiple increase spikes tied to the Iran invasion and market supply inflation.”
   [Chemical Products] 

• “Revenues are very strong. However, price increases are similar to a few years ago with the supply chain crisis. All imports from China are up 15 percent to 25 percent, which is impossible for us to absorb or to fully pass along. Our suppliers in China are telling us that oil is at an all-time high, which is putting huge challenges on their cost structures.”
   [Chemical Products] 

• “General uncertainty over the total impact of the U.S.-Iran war. Have not yet started to see the full impact of fuel increases but are aware they are coming.”
   [Machinery] 

• “Business levels have been decent this year, in line with the same period last year and improved from the second half of 2025. However, higher cost pressures are impacting margins.”
   [Fabricated Metal Products] 

• “Commodity markets remain mixed, with pockets of easing offset by ongoing volatility. Dairy and some soft commodities have cooled, while oils and grain-related inputs remain elevated given biofuel demand and feed costs. Pricing is still sensitive to policy changes, weather and global trade dynamics.”
   [Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products] 

• “Our business remains strong and stable, but there are a lot of concerns in the geopolitical arena. If the Iran conflict persists, the impact on market pricing and supply continuity could be extreme. Electronics component market remains very volatile (pricing and continuity) based on AI.”
   [Miscellaneous Manufacturing]
  

==========

CHART: ISM Manufacturing Index

April 2026 Update

=========

DATA: ISM Manufacturing Index

12-Month History
April 2026 Update

=========

=========

• Click here to view the complete ISM report

=========

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Housing Starts During MARCH 2026

The U.S. Commerce Department this morning released its Housing Starts report for March, 2026:

---------------------------------------------------

Housing Starts:
Previous Reading: 1,356,000

• Actual: 1,502,000

Month-on-Month Change: +10.77% (+146,000 New Units)

• Year-on-Year Change: +10.85% (+147,000 New Units)

---------------------------------------------------

Building Permits:
Previous Reading (revised): 1,538,000

• Actual: 1,372,000

Month-on-Month Change: -10.79% (-166,000 New Permits)

• Year-on-Year Change: -7.36%  (-109,000 New Permits)

----------------------------------------------------

Housing Starts: The top, yellow-highlighted figure is a measure of initial construction of single and multi-family residential units in the United States for the indicated month. Seasonally adjusted annual rate. The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

If you're wondering about the demand for new homes in the United States, or about the American residential construction industry in general, then you should pay attention to the monthly Housing Starts report. This report also offers insight into specific types of consumer spending: when housing starts are up, demand for the stuff that a consumer would purchase for a new home (large appliances, consumer electronics, furniture, etc.) tends to also rise -- and vice versa.

=================

CHART: Housing Starts
+ Building Permits
+ Completions
MARCH 2026 UPDATE

=================

• Click here to view the full Commerce Department report (PDF)

================= 

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Gross Domestic Product (GDP): FIRST / ADVANCE Estimate for Q1, 2026

The Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released its FIRST estimate for U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2026:

============

Previous quarter: +0.5%

• Actual: +2.0%

============

The GDP is a very broad measure of economic activity for the entire United States, covering all sectors of the economy. The Commerce Department defines real GDP as, "the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States."

============ 

CHART: Contributions to Percent Change in Real GDP

Q1, 2026 - FIRST ESTIMATE

============ 

 

• Click here to view the full Commerce Department report (PDF).
  

============

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Leading Economic Index for MARCH 2026

The Conference Board® released its Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for March, 2026:

==============

Index for March, 2026: 97.3 (The baseline 100 score is associated with 2016 data.)

==============

• Actual: -0.61% (-0.6 point Month-on-Month)
  
  
• Change from 12 Months Ago: -3.09% (-3.1 points)

============== 

• LEI for February, 2026: 97.9
  
  
• LEI for January, 2026: 97.6
      
• LEI for December, 2025: 97.6   
  
  
• LEI for November, 2025: 97.8  
  
  
• LEI for October, 2025: 98.1
   
• LEI for September, 2025: 98.3 
   
• LEI for August, 2025: 98.5 
  
  
• LEI for July, 2025: 98.8
  
  
• LEI for June, 2025: 98.8
  
  
• LEI for May, 2025: 99.1
   
• LEI for April, 2025: 99.1
  
  
• LEI for March, 2025: 100.4
  
  
• LEI for February, 2025: 101.2
  
  
• LEI for January, 2025: 101.4
  
  
• LEI for December, 2024: 101.6
  
  

==============

The yellow-highlighted percentage is the month-to-month change for the index.  The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

The LEI is a composite of 10 of the nation's economic data releases that's put together by The Conference Board. Statistically, the components listed below have shown a significant increase or decrease before national economic upturns or downturns:

1. The Standard + Poor's 500 Index
   
   
2. Average weekly claims for unemployment insurance
   
   
3. Building permits for new private housing
   
   
4. The interest rate spread between the yield on the benchmark 10-Year Treasury Note and Federal Funds
   
   
5. ISM® Index of New Orders
   
   
6. Manufacturer's new orders for consumer goods or materials
   
   
7. Manufacturer's new orders, non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft orders
   
   
8. Average weekly manufacturing hours
   
   
9. Average consumer expectations for business conditions
   
   
10. Leading Credit Index™

==============

CHART: Leading Economic Index
6-Month Growth Rate
with Warning + Recession Signal
MARCH 2026 UPDATE

==============

 

From Today's Report:

"...'After rising in February, the US LEI pulled back sharply in March, as building permits declined and consumer expectations and stock prices weakened,' said Justyna Zabinska-La Monica, Senior Manager, Business Cycle Indicators, at The Conference Board.

'The LEI continues to signal a slowdown in the economy over the coming months, as higher oil prices and supply chain tensions will likely place additional upward pressure on inflation and further reduce consumers’ purchasing power.

The labor market, while currently stable, may soften with hiring slowing and unemployment edging higher. Growth will likely remain modest, as weaker consumer spending offsets some strength in business investment and defense-related activity.

The Conference Board revised its US GDP growth forecast to well below 2%, down to 1.6% Y/Y for 2026.'..."

==============
 

• Click Here to view the Conference Board report.
  

==============

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PCE Price Index + Personal Income + Consumer Spending Report for MARCH 2026

The Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released its report on The PCE Price Index, Consumer Spending and Personal Income for March, 2026:

=============

Consumer Spending (Personal Consumption Expenditures [PCE])

Previous Reading (revised): +0.6%

• Actual: +0.9%
  
  
• > Real PCE: +0.2%*

=============

Personal Income

Previous Reading (revised): FLAT

• Actual: +0.6%
  
  
• > Disposable Personal Income (DPI): +0.6% 
  
  
• >> Real DPI: -0.1%* 

=============

The above highlighted percentages represent the month-to-month change in Consumer Spending (aka Personal Consumption Expenditures), Personal Income and Disposable Personal Income for the entire United States.

 

Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index
Previous Reading (unrevised): +0.4%

• Actual: +0.7% 

• Change from 12 months previous: +3.5%
  (prior - unrevised = +2.8%)

=====================

Core PCE Price Index
( = PCE Price Index minus food and energy)
Previous Reading (unrevised): +0.4%

• Actual: +0.3%

• Change from 12 months previous: +3.2%
  (prior - unrevised = +3.0%)

=====================

The PCE Price Index is different from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in that it is a very broad measure of the prices associated with domestic products and services, while the CPI measures a more limited fixed basket of goods and services.

The broad nature of the PCE Price Index is key to why it is the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation.  The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) pays very close attention to it.

=====================

 

CHART: Changes In Monthly Consumer Spending
MARCH 2026 UPDATE

=====================

 Click here to view the full
Commerce Department report (PDF). 

=====================

* =  Chained dollars is a method of adjusting real dollar amounts for inflation over time, so as to allow comparison of figures from different years. The Commerce Department introduced the chained-dollar measure in 1996. Chained dollars generally reflect dollar figures computed with 2012 as the base year.

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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of April 25, 2026

Jobless Claims

Earlier today, the Labor Department released its weekly report on New Jobless Insurance Claims for the week that ended on April 25, 2026:

====================
Predicted: 212,000

• Actual: 189,000

====================

The yellow-highlighted figure represents the number of first-time claims for unemployment benefits for the entire United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

 --> Previous Week (revised): 215,000

• 4-Week Moving Average: 207,500

====================

• Click here to view the full Labor Department report

====================

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Crude Oil Inventories Report for Week Ending April 24, 2026

Crude Oil Inventories

The U.S. Crude Oil Inventories report for the week that ended on April 24, 2026 was released this morning:

-- Δ from Last Week: -13,400,000 Barrels (-1.54%)

-- Δ from 1-Year Previous: +18,400,000 Barrels (+2.19%)

-- Current U.S. Crude Oil Stocks: 857,400,000 Barrels

• NB: Δ = Change

Diminishing crude oil inventories often translate to higher crude oil and fuel prices (and vice versa), but not always.

The report is produced by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

• Click Here for the Weekly Crude Oil Price
  
  

• Click Here for A Crude Oil Price Chart
  
  
• Click Here for the FULL (Extended) Weekly Petroleum Status Report
  
  
• Click Here for the Weekly Petroleum Status Report DATA OVERVIEW
  
  
• Click Here for the Weekly Petroleum Status Report HIGHLIGHTS

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