Source: U.S. Census Bureau  

Release: Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services  

Units:  Percent Change from Preceding Period, Not Seasonally Adjusted

Frequency:  Monthly

The value for the most recent month is an advance estimate that is based on data from a subsample of firms from the larger Monthly Retail Trade Survey. The advance estimate will be superseded in following months by revised estimates derived from the larger Monthly Retail Trade Survey. The associated series from the Monthly Retail Trade Survey is available at https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MRTSMPCSM44Y72USN

Information about the Advance Monthly Retail Sales Survey can be found on the Census website at https://www.census.gov/retail/marts/about_the_surveys.html