11 of 13 major retail categories showed month-over-month decreases.
Receipts at gasoline stations tumbled 5.1 percent (vs -4.4 percent in November), the largest fall since February 2016, amid cheaper gasoline prices. Also, sales at hobby, musical instrument & book stores dropped 4.9 percent (vs -1.4 percent in November), the biggest drop since September 2008, and those at miscellaneous store retailers were 4.1 percent lower (vs 4 percent in November). In addition, online and mail-order retail sales slumped 3.9 percent, the biggest drop since November 2008, after a 2.8 percent growth in the previous month. Spending also decreased at: furniture & home furniture stores (-1.3 percent vs 0.5 percent); electronics & appliance stores (-0.1 percent, the same as in November); food & beverage stores (-0.4 percent vs 0.1 percent); health & personal care stores (-2 percent vs 1.3 percent); clothing & clothing accessories stores (-0.7 percent vs 0.4 percent); general merchandise stores (-0.9 percent vs 0.4 percent); and restaurants and bars (-0.7 percent, the same as in November).
Meanwhile, receipts at motor vehicle & parts dealers rose 1 percent (vs 0.7 percent in November) and those at building material stores rebounded 0.3 percent (vs -1.5 percent in November).
Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales dropped 1.7 percent in December after an increase of 1 percent in November. These so-called core retail sales correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of GDP.
Year-on-year, retail trade grew 2.3 percent in December, compared with a revised 4.1 percent rise in the previous month.
