UNITED STATES · PUBLIC ECONOMIC EVIDENCE

Economic indicators

Economic context for industry research. These indicators do not affect Insider Signal or rankings.

This period: evidence and research questions

Each observation keeps its own reporting period. These are research prompts, not company-level conclusions.

Research lensObserved changeWhat to verify next
Consumer demand
Retail and food-service sales		2026-09 · MoM +0.77% · YoY +6.29%Check reported sales volumes and pricing separately; nominal retail growth can reflect higher prices.
Housing and construction
Housing starts		2026-08 · MoM -2.60% · YoY -1.24%Compare builders’ orders, cancellations and regional exposure; national starts do not establish company demand.
Financing conditions
Effective federal funds rate		2026-09 · MoM +0.12 pp · YoY -0.47 ppCheck floating-rate debt, refinancing dates and interest expense; policy rates are not corporate borrowing rates.
Industrial staffing
Manufacturing employment		2026-09 · MoM +0.07% · YoY +0.32%Compare hiring with output, order books and margins before interpreting capacity pressure.
Pricing and costs
Final-demand producer prices		2026-09 · MoM +1.11% · YoY +6.34%Check input-cost disclosures and gross margins; final-demand PPI is not a company’s input-cost basket.

How to use this in industry research

Read demand, employment and prices separately. Compare retail sales with consumer-company disclosures, housing starts with construction exposure, and manufacturing output with hiring. These national aggregates do not establish an individual company’s exposure.

Industrials · Consumer Cyclical · Real Estate

US Census Bureau via FRED

Retail and food-service sales

745,021.00

USD million · 2026-09 · Monthly

Month over month: +0.77 % · Year over year: +6.29 %

Nominal sales: changes combine prices and volumes. Latest month is an advance estimate.

Census direct download unavailable; using its equivalent RSAFS series via FRED.

Retail and food-service sales652,160.1753,462.92023-10: 667,815.002023-11: 666,419.002023-12: 666,963.002024-01: 660,602.002024-02: 664,621.002024-03: 664,328.002024-04: 664,858.002024-05: 667,659.002024-06: 666,040.002024-07: 673,662.002024-08: 670,668.002024-09: 676,005.002024-10: 681,808.002024-11: 685,709.002024-12: 691,794.002025-01: 687,058.002025-02: 683,772.002025-03: 694,750.002025-04: 695,464.002025-05: 685,488.002025-06: 691,883.002025-07: 698,280.002025-08: 700,407.002025-09: 700,948.002025-10: 700,790.002025-11: 705,453.002025-12: 706,264.002026-01: 701,860.002026-02: 707,959.002026-03: 719,700.002026-04: 723,921.002026-05: 731,415.002026-06: 732,898.002026-07: 729,915.002026-08: 739,322.002026-09: 745,021.002023-102026-09

Seasonally adjusted; nominal · Official source ↗

Release date: Not supplied by this delivery
Source file updated: Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:38:17 GMT
Captured: 2026-10-18T22:55:46.615948+00:00

Recent observations & revisions

Series: RSAFS

0 new periods; 0 revisions on the last refresh.

PeriodUSD millionNotes
2026-09745,021.00
2026-08739,322.00
2026-07729,915.00
2026-06732,898.00
2026-05731,415.00
2026-04723,921.00
2026-03719,700.00
2026-02707,959.00
2026-01701,860.00
2025-12706,264.00
2025-11705,453.00
2025-10700,790.00

Census / HUD via FRED

Housing starts

1,275.00

Thousand units, annual rate · 2026-08 · Monthly

Month over month: -2.60 % · Year over year: -1.24 %

An annualised monthly pace, not the number of homes started during the month.

Housing starts1,144.71,592.32023-09: 1,369.002023-10: 1,380.002023-11: 1,522.002023-12: 1,504.002024-01: 1,378.002024-02: 1,555.002024-03: 1,297.002024-04: 1,379.002024-05: 1,329.002024-06: 1,318.002024-07: 1,269.002024-08: 1,394.002024-09: 1,357.002024-10: 1,370.002024-11: 1,300.002024-12: 1,494.002025-01: 1,353.002025-02: 1,491.002025-03: 1,346.002025-04: 1,400.002025-05: 1,289.002025-06: 1,379.002025-07: 1,432.002025-08: 1,291.002025-09: 1,319.002025-10: 1,273.002025-11: 1,319.002025-12: 1,378.002026-01: 1,385.002026-02: 1,346.002026-03: 1,522.002026-04: 1,414.002026-05: 1,182.002026-06: 1,439.002026-07: 1,309.002026-08: 1,275.002023-092026-08

Seasonally adjusted annual rate · Official source ↗

Release date: Not supplied by this delivery
Source file updated: Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:32:40 GMT
Captured: 2026-10-18T22:55:46.615948+00:00

Recent observations & revisions

Series: HOUST

0 new periods; 0 revisions on the last refresh.

PeriodThousand units, annual rateNotes
2026-081,275.00
2026-071,309.00
2026-061,439.00
2026-051,182.00
2026-041,414.00
2026-031,522.00
2026-021,346.00
2026-011,385.00
2025-121,378.00
2025-111,319.00
2025-101,273.00
2025-091,319.00

Federal Reserve Board via FRED

Effective federal funds rate

3.75

Percent per annum · 2026-09 · Monthly

Month over month: +0.12 pp · Year over year: -0.47 pp

Overnight interbank rate; not a corporate borrowing rate. Changes are percentage points.

Effective federal funds rate3.55.52023-10: 5.332023-11: 5.332023-12: 5.332024-01: 5.332024-02: 5.332024-03: 5.332024-04: 5.332024-05: 5.332024-06: 5.332024-07: 5.332024-08: 5.332024-09: 5.132024-10: 4.832024-11: 4.642024-12: 4.482025-01: 4.332025-02: 4.332025-03: 4.332025-04: 4.332025-05: 4.332025-06: 4.332025-07: 4.332025-08: 4.332025-09: 4.222025-10: 4.092025-11: 3.882025-12: 3.722026-01: 3.642026-02: 3.642026-03: 3.642026-04: 3.642026-05: 3.632026-06: 3.632026-07: 3.632026-08: 3.632026-09: 3.752023-102026-09

Monthly mean; not seasonally adjusted · Official source ↗

Release date: Not supplied by this delivery
Source file updated: Thu, 01 Oct 2026 20:16:52 GMT
Captured: 2026-10-18T22:55:46.615948+00:00

Recent observations & revisions

Series: FEDFUNDS

0 new periods; 0 revisions on the last refresh.

PeriodPercent per annumNotes
2026-093.75
2026-083.63
2026-073.63
2026-063.63
2026-053.63
2026-043.64
2026-033.64
2026-023.64
2026-013.64
2025-123.72
2025-113.88
2025-104.09

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Manufacturing employment

12,652.00

Thousand employees · 2026-09 · Monthly

Month over month: +0.07 % · Year over year: +0.32 %

Employment is a broad activity proxy; it does not measure listed-company profit.

Manufacturing employment12,515.612,939.42024-01: 12,875.002024-02: 12,852.002024-03: 12,836.002024-04: 12,833.002024-05: 12,825.002024-06: 12,814.002024-07: 12,806.002024-08: 12,772.002024-09: 12,758.002024-10: 12,697.002024-11: 12,711.002024-12: 12,693.002025-01: 12,673.002025-02: 12,671.002025-03: 12,666.002025-04: 12,662.002025-05: 12,651.002025-06: 12,636.002025-07: 12,625.002025-08: 12,615.002025-09: 12,612.002025-10: 12,603.002025-11: 12,593.002025-12: 12,580.002026-01: 12,582.002026-02: 12,583.002026-03: 12,598.002026-04: 12,597.002026-05: 12,595.002026-06: 12,608.002026-07: 12,628.002026-08: 12,643.002026-09: 12,652.002024-012026-09

Seasonally adjusted · Official source ↗

Release date: Not supplied by this delivery
Source file updated: —
Captured: 2026-10-18T22:55:46.615948+00:00

Recent observations & revisions

Series: CES3000000001

0 new periods; 0 revisions on the last refresh.

PeriodThousand employeesNotes
2026-0912,652.00preliminary
2026-0812,643.00preliminary
2026-0712,628.00
2026-0612,608.00
2026-0512,595.00
2026-0412,597.00
2026-0312,598.00
2026-0212,583.00
2026-0112,582.00
2025-1212,580.00
2025-1112,593.00
2025-1012,603.00

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Construction employment

8,364.00

Thousand employees · 2026-09 · Monthly

Month over month: +0.13 % · Year over year: +1.32 %

Employment is a broad activity proxy; it does not measure listed-company profit.

Construction employment8,081.28,405.82024-01: 8,123.002024-02: 8,132.002024-03: 8,164.002024-04: 8,170.002024-05: 8,176.002024-06: 8,196.002024-07: 8,208.002024-08: 8,236.002024-09: 8,254.002024-10: 8,262.002024-11: 8,267.002024-12: 8,276.002025-01: 8,264.002025-02: 8,267.002025-03: 8,273.002025-04: 8,271.002025-05: 8,269.002025-06: 8,267.002025-07: 8,261.002025-08: 8,239.002025-09: 8,255.002025-10: 8,243.002025-11: 8,279.002025-12: 8,272.002026-01: 8,317.002026-02: 8,296.002026-03: 8,311.002026-04: 8,314.002026-05: 8,316.002026-06: 8,319.002026-07: 8,337.002026-08: 8,353.002026-09: 8,364.002024-012026-09

Seasonally adjusted · Official source ↗

Release date: Not supplied by this delivery
Source file updated: —
Captured: 2026-10-18T22:55:46.615948+00:00

Recent observations & revisions

Series: CES2000000001

0 new periods; 0 revisions on the last refresh.

PeriodThousand employeesNotes
2026-098,364.00preliminary
2026-088,353.00preliminary
2026-078,337.00
2026-068,319.00
2026-058,316.00
2026-048,314.00
2026-038,311.00
2026-028,296.00
2026-018,317.00
2025-128,272.00
2025-118,279.00
2025-108,243.00

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Health care and social assistance employment

23,958.60

Thousand employees · 2026-09 · Monthly

Month over month: +0.10 % · Year over year: +2.22 %

Employment is a broad activity proxy; it does not measure listed-company profit.

Health care and social assistance employment21,909.324,144.92024-01: 22,095.602024-02: 22,191.202024-03: 22,276.602024-04: 22,359.202024-05: 22,424.602024-06: 22,493.702024-07: 22,541.902024-08: 22,586.702024-09: 22,673.602024-10: 22,754.802024-11: 22,831.602024-12: 22,901.402025-01: 22,960.402025-02: 23,008.302025-03: 23,076.002025-04: 23,152.002025-05: 23,217.002025-06: 23,277.502025-07: 23,360.102025-08: 23,382.902025-09: 23,438.202025-10: 23,485.802025-11: 23,545.702025-12: 23,587.502026-01: 23,694.402026-02: 23,664.002026-03: 23,756.702026-04: 23,813.802026-05: 23,848.602026-06: 23,887.202026-07: 23,900.502026-08: 23,935.602026-09: 23,958.602024-012026-09

Seasonally adjusted · Official source ↗

Release date: Not supplied by this delivery
Source file updated: —
Captured: 2026-10-18T22:55:46.615948+00:00

Recent observations & revisions

Series: CES6562000001

0 new periods; 0 revisions on the last refresh.

PeriodThousand employeesNotes
2026-0923,958.60preliminary
2026-0823,935.60preliminary
2026-0723,900.50
2026-0623,887.20
2026-0523,848.60
2026-0423,813.80
2026-0323,756.70
2026-0223,664.00
2026-0123,694.40
2025-1223,587.50
2025-1123,545.70
2025-1023,485.80

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Final-demand producer prices

159.61

Index, Nov 2009=100 · 2026-09 · Monthly

Month over month: +1.11 % · Year over year: +6.34 %

Broad selling-price index. Prefer year-over-year comparisons because it is not seasonally adjusted.

Final-demand producer prices140.4161.42024-01: 142.192024-02: 143.262024-03: 143.782024-04: 144.562024-05: 144.502024-06: 145.322024-07: 145.262024-08: 145.592024-09: 145.672024-10: 146.292024-11: 145.992024-12: 146.192025-01: 147.602025-02: 148.172025-03: 148.322025-04: 148.012025-05: 148.432025-06: 148.842025-07: 149.902025-08: 149.472025-09: 150.102025-10: 150.442025-11: 150.582025-12: 150.772026-01: 152.152026-02: 153.162026-03: 154.682026-04: 156.442026-05: 157.222026-06: 157.162026-07: 157.302026-08: 157.852026-09: 159.612024-012026-09

Not seasonally adjusted · Official source ↗

Release date: Not supplied by this delivery
Source file updated: —
Captured: 2026-10-18T22:55:46.615948+00:00

Recent observations & revisions

Series: WPUFD4

0 new periods; 0 revisions on the last refresh.

PeriodIndex, Nov 2009=100Notes
2026-09159.61Preliminary. All indexes are subject to monthly revisions up to four months after original publication.
2026-08157.85Preliminary. All indexes are subject to monthly revisions up to four months after original publication.
2026-07157.30Preliminary. All indexes are subject to monthly revisions up to four months after original publication.
2026-06157.16Preliminary. All indexes are subject to monthly revisions up to four months after original publication.
2026-05157.22
2026-04156.44
2026-03154.68
2026-02153.16
2026-01152.15
2025-12150.77
2025-11150.58
2025-10150.44

Federal Reserve G.17

Manufacturing output

99.44

Index 2017=100 · 2026-09 · Monthly

Month over month: +0.26 % · Year over year: +1.42 %

Manufacturing output · United States · 2026-09. month over month: +0.26%. year over year: +1.42%. Output changes describe economic activity, not listed-company earnings.

Manufacturing output94.999.92023-10: 96.792023-11: 97.252023-12: 97.242024-01: 95.752024-02: 96.962024-03: 97.092024-04: 96.562024-05: 97.102024-06: 96.932024-07: 96.172024-08: 96.622024-09: 96.092024-10: 95.442024-11: 95.722024-12: 96.152025-01: 95.772025-02: 96.962025-03: 97.392025-04: 97.332025-05: 97.252025-06: 97.582025-07: 98.072025-08: 98.082025-09: 98.052025-10: 97.212025-11: 97.132025-12: 96.992026-01: 97.082026-02: 97.732026-03: 98.092026-04: 98.842026-05: 98.982026-06: 99.272026-07: 99.432026-08: 99.182026-09: 99.442023-102026-09

Seasonally adjusted · Official source ↗

Release date: Not supplied by this delivery
Source file updated: —
Captured: 2026-10-18T22:55:32.517799+00:00

Recent observations & revisions

Series: IPMAN

0 new periods; 0 revisions on the last refresh.

PeriodIndex 2017=100Notes
2026-0999.44
2026-0899.18
2026-0799.43
2026-0699.27
2026-0598.98
2026-0498.84
2026-0398.09
2026-0297.73
2026-0197.08
2025-1296.99
2025-1197.13
2025-1097.21

Federal Reserve G.17

Electric and gas utilities output

117.25

Index 2017=100 · 2026-09 · Monthly

Month over month: +3.50 % · Year over year: +8.74 %

Electric and gas utilities output · United States · 2026-09. month over month: +3.50%. year over year: +8.74%. Output changes describe economic activity, not listed-company earnings.

Electric and gas utilities output101.0118.72023-10: 105.912023-11: 106.122023-12: 103.882024-01: 106.692024-02: 102.462024-03: 104.392024-04: 105.902024-05: 108.202024-06: 108.922024-07: 107.132024-08: 106.982024-09: 106.222024-10: 107.052024-11: 104.982024-12: 109.992025-01: 112.602025-02: 111.412025-03: 106.982025-04: 108.792025-05: 107.752025-06: 109.322025-07: 109.892025-08: 106.442025-09: 107.822025-10: 109.932025-11: 108.352025-12: 114.832026-01: 110.842026-02: 111.252026-03: 109.122026-04: 110.072026-05: 110.102026-06: 110.462026-07: 111.662026-08: 113.282026-09: 117.252023-102026-09

Seasonally adjusted · Official source ↗

Release date: Not supplied by this delivery
Source file updated: —
Captured: 2026-10-18T22:55:32.607560+00:00

Recent observations & revisions

Series: IPUTIL

0 new periods; 0 revisions on the last refresh.

PeriodIndex 2017=100Notes
2026-09117.25
2026-08113.28
2026-07111.66
2026-06110.46
2026-05110.10
2026-04110.07
2026-03109.12
2026-02111.25
2026-01110.84
2025-12114.83
2025-11108.35
2025-10109.93