Retail Sales

Commerce reported that January retail sales, at $700.3 billion, were off 0.8% compared to December and up 0.6% compared to January 2023. NRF reported that January’s core retail sales, which it bases on Census data and excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, fell 0.8%, from December to January, while increasing 2.8% annually.

Commerce reported that total October retail sales, at $705.0 billion, were off 0.1% compared to September and posted a 2.5% annual gain. NRF reported that October retail sales, which does not include automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, increased 3.1% annually on an unadjusted basis on a three-month moving average through October, while posting a 3.7% annual gain through the first ten months of 2023.

Commerce reported that total August retail sales, at $697.6 billion, were up 0.6% from July to August, and were up 2.5% annually. Total retail sales, from June through August, saw a 2.2% annual increase, it noted. NRF’s calculation of retail sales – which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants to focus on core retail – showed August was up 0.1% seasonally adjusted from July and up 3.3% unadjusted year over year. In July, sales were up 0.7% month over month and also up 3.3% year over year.  

Commerce reported that April retail sales—at $686.1 billion—were up 0.4% compared to March and were up 1.6% annually. And from February through April, it said retail sales increased 3.1% compared to the same period a year ago. NRF reported that April retail sales, which does not include automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, were up 0.6% over March and were up 2% on an unadjusted basis annually. And on a three-month moving average through April, NRF said that retail sales were up 3.7% annually on...

Commerce reported that January retail sales—at $697.0 billion—were up 3% compared to January and up 6.4% annually. NRF reported that its calculation of retail sales, which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants to focus on core retail, saw January increase 1.5% compared to December and a 4.8% increase on an unadjusted basis annually.

Commerce reported that December retail sales—at $677.1 billion—fell 1.1% compared to November, while posting a 6.0% annual gain, and NRF reported that December retail sales were off 0.6% on seasonally-adjusted basis compared to November and were up 5% on an unadjusted basis annually.

U.S. retail sales began 2022 where 2021 ended—with solid growth—despite issues posed by Omicron variant and high levels of inflation, according to data respectively issued today by the United States Department of Commerce and the National Retail Federation (NRF).

Commerce reported that December retail sales—at $626.8 billion—were off 1.9% compared to November, while seeing a 16.9% annual increase. And it noted that total retail sales, for all of 2021, saw a 19.3% annual gain, and retail sales, from October through December, rose 17.1% annually.

Commerce reported that October retail sales came in at $638.2 billion, marking a 1.7% increase over September’s revised $627.5 billion and a 16.3% annual gain. And it added that total retail sales, from August through October, rose 15.4%.

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NRF stated that a record year could be on tap for 2021 holiday retail sales (NRF defines holiday sales as sales from November 1-December 31, excluding automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants), projecting an increase between 8.5%-to-10.5%, coming in between $843.4 billion and $859 billion.

Commerce reported that September retail sales, at $625.4 billion, were up 0.7% compared to August and up 13.9% annually. And it added that total retail sales, from July through September, saw a 14.9% annual increase compared to the same period a year ago.

Commerce reported that August retail sales—at $618.7 billion—eked out a 0.7% increase over July and rose 15.1% annually. The NRF reported that its calculation of retail sales, which does not include automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, showed that August retail sales headed up 2.3 on a seasonally-adjusted basis over July and were up 12% on an unadjusted basis annually.

Commerce reported that July retail sales—at $617.7 billion—were off 1.1% compared to June’s revised $624.7 billion and topped July 2020 by 15.8%. And it added that total retail sales from May through July saw a 20.6% annual increase.

Commerce reported that March retail sales—at $619.1 billion—were up 9.8% compared to February, while rising 27.7% annually, and the National Retail Federation reported that its calculation of March retail sales, which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants, pointed to a 7.4% seasonally-adjusted increase, from February, and a 17.7% unadjusted annual gain.