Retail Sales Index and Ex-Auto Retail Sales

The Retail Sale index is a closely watch economic indicator and an ELEVATED mortgage rate mover.  Retail Sales are a sample of many different sized retail stores.  It does not include services, but it the markets closely observe it.  It can be associated with consumer confidence because in theory confident buyers spend more money.  The volatile automobile industry is often removed from the index to give another closely watched, more precise indicator; Retail Sales Ex-Auto.  The report is issued near the 12th of the month at 8:30 [eastern].