Existing Home Sales (Annualized) vs Retail Sales (Monthly Change)
Existing Home Sales (Annualized) is currently 4.26M (up +0.2M). Retail Sales (Monthly Change) is currently -0.2% (down -0.4%).
| Metric | Existing Home Sales (Annualized) | Retail Sales (Monthly Change) |
|---|---|---|
| Current value | 4.26M | -0.2% |
| Previous reading | 4.08M | 0.2% |
| Change | +0.2M | -0.4% |
| Trend | up | down |
| Frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Source | National Association of Realtors | U.S. Census Bureau |
| Last updated | 2026-03-20 | 2026-03-17 |
| Category | housing | consumer |
What Existing Home Sales (Annualized) measures
Existing home sales measures the number of completed sales of previously owned homes, expressed as a seasonally adjusted annual rate. It accounts for approximately 85-90% of all home sales in the U.S.
At 4.26 million, existing home sales remain well below the 2021 peak of 6.1 million. The 'lock-in effect' — where homeowners refuse to give up sub-4% mortgages — continues to constrain inventory. For executives, this suppressed transaction volume affects real estate commissions, moving services, home improvement spending, and mortgage origination revenue across the industry.
What Retail Sales (Monthly Change) measures
Retail sales measures the total receipts of retail stores, covering purchases of durable and nondurable goods. It is a timely indicator of consumer demand and is closely watched for signs of economic strength or weakness.
Retail sales declined 0.2% in the latest report, following a weak January (-0.9%). Excluding autos and gas, the picture is slightly better. For executives in retail and consumer goods, the data suggests consumers are pulling back on discretionary purchases while maintaining spending on essentials. E-commerce continues to gain share of total retail sales.
Frequently asked
Existing Home Sales (Annualized) is currently 4.26M, up +0.2M from the previous reading. Source: National Association of Realtors, updated monthly.
Retail Sales (Monthly Change) is currently -0.2%, down -0.4% from the previous reading. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, updated monthly.
At 4.26 million, existing home sales remain well below the 2021 peak of 6.1 million. The 'lock-in effect' — where homeowners refuse to give up sub-4% mortgages — continues to constrain inventory. For Retail sales declined 0.2% in the latest report, following a weak January (-0.9%). Excluding autos and gas, the picture is slightly better. For executives in retail and consumer goods, the data sugges