The Redbook Index is a proprietary indicator of growth in retail sales and provides advanced estimates of trends in retail sales ahead of official releases and company reports.
It is an economic indicator that offers insights into the health of the retail sector, consumer spending trends, and the overall state of the economy.
What is the Redbook Index?
The Redbook Index, also known as the Johnson Redbook Index, is a weekly measure of comparable-store sales growth in the U.S. retail sector.
It tracks sales data from a sample of large retailers, such as department stores, discount stores, and chain stores.
The report provides insights into consumer spending patterns and trends, offering a snapshot of the retail sector’s performance.
The Redbook Inex is usually divided into two segments:
- Redbook Average
- Redbook Same-Store Sales Index
The Redbook Average tracks sales growth across all participating stores, while the Redbook Same-Store Sales Index focuses on sales growth within stores that have been open for at least one year.
Why is the Redbook Index important?
The Redbook Index is considered an important economic indicator as it provides insights into consumer spending, which is a major driver of economic growth in the United States.
By monitoring the performance of the retail sector, economists, investors, and policymakers can gauge the overall health of the economy, as well as identify potential shifts in consumer behavior.
A strong Redbook Index can signal increased consumer confidence and a robust economy, while a weak report may indicate economic weakness or reduced consumer spending.
Who publishes the Redbook Index?
The Redbook report is produced by Redbook Research, an independent research firm specializing in the collection and analysis of retail sales data.
The firm gathers data from a sample of large general merchandise retailers across the United States, ensuring that the report is representative of the broader retail sector.
Redbook Research compiles and analyzes the data, producing the weekly Redbook report, which is then released to the public.
When is the Redbook Index released?
The Redbook report is typically released on a weekly basis, usually on Tuesdays at 8:55 a.m. Eastern Time.
The report is available through various financial news outlets, as well as on Redbook Research’s website.
By providing timely and up-to-date information on the retail sector’s performance, the Redbook report enables economists, investors, and policymakers to stay informed and make data-driven decisions.