Michigan Retail Index

The Michigan Retail Index is a monthly broad-based gauge of key retail activity in Michigan. A new index is released by the Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) on the fourth Wednesday of each month. The index is based on a monthly survey of MRA members. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago assists in collecting, compiling and interpreting the survey data.

Latest Release

Michigan Retailers' Holiday Forecast Mixed

According to the Michigan Retail Index, a joint project of the Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, 35 percent of retailers increased sales over the same month last year, while 49 percent recorded declines and 16 percent saw no change. The results create a seasonally adjusted performance index of 42.5 for September, down from 46.6 in August, and halting a string of four consecutive monthly increases.

Looking ahead, 38 percent of retailers said they expect higher sales during the fourth quarter holiday season over the same period last year, while 36 percent project a decrease and 26 percent no change. That puts the seasonally adjusted outlook index at 49.2, down from 46.6 in August.

Data Table offsite link
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William Strauss
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Analysis of Michigan Retailer Survey April 2002 (PDF,91KB)