Resources & Updates

How the Retail Spending Index is calculated:

The Experian US Retail Spending Index is calculated utilizing responses from a nationally representative sample of US consumers to 3 relevant survey questions.

1. Thinking about your spending overall, for your household and for yourself individually, right now compared to a month ago, are you…
   1. Spending more now than a month ago (score=100), Spending about the same (0), or Spending less / trying to cut back on spending (-100)

2. For each of the (25) categories listed below, please indicate whether or not your spending this month is higher, the same, or lower than it was last month?
   1. Higher (100), The Same (0), or Lower (-100)

3. For each of the (25) categories listed below, please indicate what you expect might happen next month. Is your spending likely to be higher, lower or about the same?
   1. Higher (100), The Same (0), or Lower (-100)

Respondents answer questions 2 and 3 separately for these 25 household spend categories:

• Purchases of furniture, appliances, electronics; Home maintenance/repairs/improvement; Internet costs; Media subscriptions – streaming services, cable, magazines, newspapers, etc.; Cell phone costs; School/college tuition and fees; Childcare / babysitting; Items for baby – diapers, baby food, formula etc.; Automobile expenses; Public transport / taxi / ride share; Groceries; Food Delivery or take out; Eating out; Medical and dental services; Pharmacy; Beauty and wellness; Cigarettes & tobacco; Alcohol; Coffee; Recreation and Entertainment – movies, shows, concerts, sporting events, etc.; Books/video games/music downloads, etc.; Clothing; Shoes and accessories; Vacation

Retail Spending INDEX = the average score (between 100 and -100) to the 3 questions noted above.

The index is scored between 100 and -100, with the values representing:

• 100 = Extremely High Retail Spending

• 0 = Normal Retail Spending

• -100 = Extremely Low Retail Spending

How the Consumer Sentiment Index is calculated:

The Experian US Consumer Sentiment Index is calculated utilizing responses from a nationally representative sample of US consumers to 3 relevant survey questions:

1. Overall, how do you feel about your current situation, given the existence of this pandemic and the measures being taken to combat it? Would you say…

   1. Delighted (score=100), Pleased (67), Mostly satisfied (33), Mixed (0), Mostly dissatisfied (-33), Unhappy (-67), or Terrible (-100).

2. In your opinion is your current situation getting better, staying the same or getting worse than it was a month ago?

   1. Getting Better (100), The Same (0), or Getting Worse (-100)

3. What is likely to happen to your situation in the next month or so? Is your situation likely to get better, stay the same or get worse?

   1. Get Better (100), Stay The Same (0), or Get Worse (-100)

Consumer Sentiment INDEX = the average score to the 3 questions noted above.

The index is scored between 100 and -100, with the values representing:

• 100 = Extremely positive consumer sentiment

• 0 = Neutral consumer sentiment

• -100 = Extremely negative consumer sentiment.