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What is the difference between "value" and "volume" measures of retail sales, and how does Data Buffet differentiate them?

The value of retail sales is a measure of retail trade at current prices, a.k.a. in nominal terms, with no adjustment made for the effect of price changes.  Conversely, the volume of retail sales is in constant prices, a.k.a. in real terms. These may be reported as levels or as value and volume indexes.

These measures may be expressed as currency levels, indexes, or percent changes. For example:

Mnemonic	Description	Units	Geography
WRLRAFBSAM.ICAN	Retail trade in food and beverage stores - Value	(Ths. CAD, SA)	Canada
WRIRA472UMAM.ISVN	Retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco - Value index	(Index 2000=100, SA)	Slovenia
WR%RACGUM.ICHN	Total retail sales of consumer goods - Change in value	(% Y/Y, NSA)	China
WRIROCLFUM.ISGP	Retail sales	(Vol. Index 2010=100, NSA)	Singapore
WR%ROTTAM.IDEU	Retail trade deflated turnover - Change in volume	(%, SA)	Germany
TNJRTVXAFAM.ICOL	Retail and vehicle sales excl. fuel	(Vol. Index 2013=100, SA)	Colombia
TNJWRUQ.IMYS	Volume index of distributive trade	(Vol. Index 2010=100, NSA)	Malaysia

Traditionally, Data Buffet republished value indexes of retail sales.  We have recently expanded our coverage to include turnover measures outside wholesale and retail (where "turnover" is not so obviously a synonym for "sales"), for classifications outside NAICS and NACE (where unusual cross-branch aggregates may occur), and for indexes of volume.  In response, in August 2014 we altered our long-standing practice regarding mnemonics:

• Wholesale and retail sales previously used the theme-prefix WR, but are now grouped with all turnover series under TN.
• Volume indexes now use a third character of J to differentiate (when necessary) from value indexes with I.

Measure	Price basis		Concept codes (2011)	Concept codes (2014)
Value	Nominal	Current	WR^RA?	TN(I,L)?
Volume	Real	Constant	WR^RO?	TN(J,C)?

Existing datasets will retain their existing mnemonics; the new patterns will be adopted as the opportunity arises (for example, during Europe's typical five-year rebasing of indexed short-term statistics). For volume indexes, the unit-descriptors will show "Vol. Index." During the transitional period, if you wish to retrieve all such series, you will need to use two sets of basket wild card expressions.