Most people assume that interpreting financial data only applies to the monthly, quarterly and annually p&l statements, but a good manager checks their numbers on a daily basis. I always check: comp sales, sales vs. plan, average sale, a running payroll total for the week, refund %, as well as what % of my refunds are cash (a great way to catch shrink), and my inventory level and orders. By watching these each day I can follow trends and adjust accordingly. On the p&l side, this is a great way to see just where your money is being spent, is your water cost rising? Check for leaky toilets. Little things like this can ad up. If your system allows run an employee review of your cashiers, monitor which ones are the most efficient and put your payroll $ to better use.