Overall Assessment
Traffic-light indicators compare each metric to its 10-year average. Green means close to or below average. Yellow means notably above. Red means significantly elevated.
Comparison - Jan 2026
| Metric | Current | Prior Period | Year Ago | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Sales | 633709.00 | 634673.00 | 614980.00 | 964.00 ↓ |
| Consumer Sentiment | 56.4 | 52.9 | 71.7 | 3.50 ↑ |
| Housing Starts | 1404K | 1322K | 1514K | 82.00 ↑ |
| Initial Claims | 213000.00 | 213000.00 | 467000.00 | 0.00 → |
| Personal Consumption | $21474.9B | $21383.9B | $20514.3B | 91.00 ↑ |
| Weekly Hours | 33.80 | 33.80 | 33.60 | 0.00 → |
Source: Federal Reserve FRED. All data as of latest available period.
What This Dashboard Shows
This dashboard combines six economic indicators that collectively paint a picture of the environment small businesses operate in. No single metric tells the full story, but together they cover the key dimensions: consumer spending (retail sales and PCE), consumer confidence (sentiment), housing activity (starts), employment conditions (weekly hours and jobless claims).
Each indicator has its own frequency and release timing. Retail sales and PCE are monthly. Consumer sentiment is monthly with a mid-month preliminary read. Housing starts are monthly. Jobless claims are weekly. Average weekly hours are monthly. The dashboard updates as each new data point becomes available.
Use the mini-charts to spot directional trends and the comparison table for exact readings. When most indicators are moving in the same direction, the signal is strong. When they diverge, the situation is more nuanced.
Why a Combined View Matters
Small business owners cannot watch a dozen separate economic releases every week. This dashboard distills the most relevant indicators into one view. If retail sales are falling, sentiment is dropping, and jobless claims are rising -- that is a clear signal to conserve cash and tighten operations. If all three are positive, it is a green light for growth investment.
How to Read This Data
Each mini-chart shows the historical trend for one metric. The comparison table provides exact current values, prior-period values, year-ago levels, and the most recent period-over-period change. Look for metrics where the current value significantly exceeds the prior period and year-ago readings — those are the areas of emerging risk or opportunity. The traffic-light indicators above flag which metrics deviate most from their 10-year norms.
Small Business Health Dashboard - Frequently Asked Questions
Six key indicators for small business health: retail sales (consumer spending), consumer sentiment (confidence), housing starts (construction activity), initial claims (layoffs), PCE (total consumption), and average weekly hours (labor demand).
Look for convergence. When most indicators are moving in the same direction, the signal is reliable. Green arrows (up for spending metrics, down for claims) mean improving conditions. The opposite means deteriorating.
Initial jobless claims and average weekly hours are the most forward-looking because they signal labor market changes before they appear in other data. Retail sales and PCE confirm whether consumer behavior is matching the leading signals.
Claims data is weekly (Thursday mornings). All other indicators are monthly. The dashboard updates as each component data point is released.
If some indicators are positive and others negative, the economy is likely in transition. For example, strong retail sales with rising claims may mean consumers are still spending but layoffs are starting -- a late-cycle pattern.
All series are from the FRED database: RSXFS (Census Bureau), UMCSENT (U. of Michigan), HOUST (Census/HUD), ICSA (DOL), PCE (BEA), AWHNONAG (BLS).