US Retails Sales Drop 0.2% in March

Retail sales in the United States decreased by 0.2 percent month-over-month in March 2017 after February figures were revised to a 0.3 percent drop which previously was reported as a 0.1 percent gain. The primary drivers of the decline were lower spending at auto dealerships and gas stations. It was the first consecutive two-month drop in more than two years.
Anna | anna@tradingeconomics.com
4/14/2017 12:57:58 PM
Retail control-group sales, which are used to calculate GDP and exclude the categories of food services, auto dealers, building materials outlets and gasoline stations, rose 0.5 percent after falling 0.2 percent in February. 

Sales declined in six of 13 major retail categories in March. 

Purchases at auto dealers decreased 1.2 percent in March after a 1.5 percent drop. Receipts at gasoline service stations fell 1 percent in March after decling 0.3 percent in February.  Retail sales excluding autos were little changed for a second straight month.

Sales also declined at: building materials outlets  (-1.5 percent vs +2.6 percent in February); furniture stores (-0.3 percent vs +0.2 percent ); sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores (-0.8 percent vs +0.4 percent); food services and drinking places (-0.6 percent vs -0.3 percent)).

Purchases rose at: electronics and appliances stores (2.6 percent vs -1.9 percent)), food and bevereage stores (0.5 percent vs 0 percent), health and personal care stores (0.1 percent vs 0.9 percent), clothing and clothing accessories (1 percent vs -2.7 percent) and  general merchandise stores (0.3 percent vs -0.4 percent).

US Retails Sales Drop 0.2% in March



News

US Retail Sales Unexpectedly Stall
US retail sales unexpectedly stalled in December 2025, following a 0.6% increase in November and falling short of forecasts for a 0.4% gain. Gains in sales at building material and garden equipment dealers (1.2%), sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and book stores (0.4%), gasoline stations (0.3%), food and beverage stores (0.2%), and nonstore retailers (0.1%) were offset by declines at miscellaneous store retailers (-0.9%), furniture stores (-0.9%), clothing retailers (-0.7%), and electronics and appliance stores (-0.4%).
Published on 2026-02-10

US Retail Sales Unexpectedly Stall
US retail sales unexpectedly stalled in December 2025, following a 0.6% increase in November and falling short of forecasts for a 0.4% gain. Gains in sales at building material and garden equipment dealers (1.2%), sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and book stores (0.4%), gasoline stations (0.3%), food and beverage stores (0.2%), and nonstore retailers (0.1%) were offset by declines at miscellaneous store retailers (-0.9%), furniture stores (-0.9%), clothing retailers (-0.7%), electronics and appliance stores (-0.4%), motor vehicle and parts dealers (-0.2%), health (-0.2%), food services and drinking places (-0.1%) and general merchandise stores (-0.1%). Excluding auto dealers and gasoline stations, sales were also flat. Meanwhile, sales excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, which are used to calculate GDP, edged down 0.1%, the first decline in three months.
Published on 2026-02-10

US Retail Sales Rebound
Retail sales in the US increased 0.6% month-over-month in November 2025, rebounding from a revised 0.1% fall in October and better than forecasts of a 0.4% rise. Biggest increases were seen in sales for sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (1.9%); miscellaneous store retailers (1.7%); gasoline stations (1.4%); building material and garden equipment suppliers (1.3%); motor vehicle & parts dealers (1%); clothing stores (0.9%); food services & drinking places (0.6%); nonstore retailers (0.4%); health & personal care stores (0.3%); and food & beverage stores (0.1%). On the other hand, sales were flat at general merchandise and electronics & appliance stores and fell 0.1% at furniture stores. Meanwhile, sales excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, which are used to calculate GDP, rose 0.4%, following a 0.6% gain in October, in line with expectations
Published on 2026-01-14

US Retail Sales Rebound
Retail sales in the US increased 0.6% month-over-month in November 2025, rebounding from a revised 0.1% fall in October and better than forecasts of a 0.4% rise. Biggest increases were seen in sales for sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (1.9%); miscellaneous store retailers (1.7%); gasoline stations (1.4%); building material and garden equipment suppliers (1.3%); motor vehicle & parts dealers (1%); clothing stores (0.9%); food services & drinking places (0.6%); nonstore retailers (0.4%); health & personal care stores (0.3%); and food & beverage stores (0.1%). On the other hand, sales were flat at general merchandise and electronics & appliance stores and fell 0.1% at furniture stores.
Published on 2026-01-14

US Retail Sales Rebound
US retail sales rose 0.6% mom in November 2025, the largest gain since July, rebounding from a revised 0.1% decline in October and exceeding forecasts of a 0.4% increase. The rise was driven by a rebound in auto sales, following a slowdown caused by the expiration of federal tax incentives on electric vehicles, and by strong holiday shopping. Biggest increases were seen in sales for sporting goods, musical instrument, & book stores (1.9%); miscellaneous store retailers (1.7%); gasoline stations (1.4%); building and garden suppliers (1.3%); motor vehicle dealers (1%); clothing stores (0.9%); food services & drinking places (0.6%); nonstore retailers (0.4%); health & personal care (0.3%); and food & beverage stores (0.1%). On the other hand, sales were flat at general merchandise and electronics stores and fell 0.1% at furniture stores. Meanwhile, sales excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, which are used to calculate GDP, rose 0.4%.
Published on 2026-01-14

US Retail Sales Rebound
Retail sales in the US increased 0.6% month-over-month in November 2025, rebounding from a revised 0.1% fall in October and better than forecasts of a 0.4% rise. Biggest increases were seen in sales for sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (1.9%); miscellaneous store retailers (1.7%); gasoline stations (1.4%); building material and garden equipment suppliers (1.3%); motor vehicle & parts dealers (1%); clothing stores (0.9%); food services & drinking places (0.6%); nonstore retailers (0.4%); health & personal care stores (0.3%); and food & beverage stores (0.1%). On the other hand, sales were flat at general merchandise and electronics & appliance stores and fell 0.1% at furniture stores. Meanwhile, sales excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, which are used to calculate GDP, rose 0.4%, following a 0.6% gain in October, in line with expectations.
Published on 2026-01-14

US Retail Sales Rebound
Retail sales in the US increased 0.6% month-over-month in November 2025, rebounding from a revised 0.1% fall in October and better than forecasts of a 0.4% rise. Biggest increases were seen in sales for sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (1.9%); miscellaneous store retailers (1.7%); gasoline stations (1.4%); building material and garden equipment suppliers (1.3%); and motor vehicle & parts dealers (1%)
Published on 2026-01-14

US Retail Sales Rebound
US retail sales rose 0.6% mom in November 2025, the largest gain since July, rebounding from a revised 0.1% decline in October and exceeding forecasts of a 0.4% increase. The rise was driven by a rebound in auto sales, following a slowdown caused by the expiration of federal tax incentives on electric vehicles, and by strong holiday shopping. Biggest increases were seen in sales for sporting goods, musical instrument, & book stores (1.9%); miscellaneous store retailers (1.7%); gasoline stations (1.4%); building and garden suppliers (1.3%); motor vehicle dealers (1%); clothing stores (0.9%); food services & drinking places (0.6%); nonstore retailers (0.4%); health & personal care (0.3%); and food & beverage stores (0.1%). On the other hand, sales were flat at general merchandise and electronics stores and fell 0.1% at furniture stores. Meanwhile, sales excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, which are used to calculate GDP, rose 0.4%.
Published on 2026-01-14

US Retail Sales Stall
Retail sales in the US flattened in October from September 2025, following a downwardly revised 0.1% rise in the previous period, below forecasts of a 0.1% rise. Sales excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, which are used to calculate GDP, soared 0.8%
Published on 2025-12-16

US Retail Sales Stall
Retail sales in the US flattened in October from September 2025, following a downwardly revised 0.1% rise in the previous period, and below forecasts of a 0.1% rise. However, sales excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, which are used to calculate GDP, soared 0.8%, rebounding from a 0.1% fall in September and much higher than expectations of 0.1%. Sales at auto dealers were down 1.6% and other declines were also seen at gasoline stations (-0.8%), building material & garden equipment dealers (-0.9%), health & personal care stores (-0.6%), and food services & drinking places (-0.4%). Such declines were partially offset by rises in sales at furniture & home furnishing stores (2.3%), sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (1.9%), nonstore retailers (1.8%), miscellaneous store retailers (1.5%), clothing (0.9%), electronics stores (0.7%), general merchandise stores (0.5%) and food & beverages stores (0.3%).
Published on 2025-12-16

US Retail Sales Stall
Retail sales in the US flattened in October from September 2025, following a downwardly revised 0.1% rise in the previous period, and below forecasts of a 0.1% rise. However, sales excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, which are used to calculate GDP, soared 0.8%, rebounding from a 0.1% fall in September and much higher than expectations of 0.4%. Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers were down 1.6% and other declines were also seen at building material & garden equipment dealers (-0.9%), gasoline stations (-0.8%), health & personal care stores (-0.6%), and food services & drinking places (-0.4%). Such declines were partially offset by rises in sales at furniture & home furnishing stores (2.3%), sporting goods, musical instrument, & book stores (1.9%), nonstore retailers (1.8%), miscellaneous store retailers (1.5%), clothing (0.9%), electronics stores (0.7%), general merchandise stores (0.5%) and food & beverages stores (0.3%).
Published on 2025-12-16

US Retail Sales Stall
Retail sales in the US flattened in October from September 2025, following a downwardly revised 0.1% rise in the previous period, and below forecasts of a 0.1% rise. However, sales excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, which are used to calculate GDP, soared 0.8%, rebounding from a 0.1% fall in September and much higher than expectations of 0.1%. Sales at auto dealers were down 1.6% and other declines were also seen at gasoline stations (-0.8%), building material & garden equipment dealers (-0.9%), health & personal care stores (-0.6%), and food services & drinking places (-0.4%). Such declines were partially offset by rises in sales at furniture & home furnishing stores (2.3%), sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (1.9%), nonstore retailers (1.8%), miscellaneous store retailers (1.5%), clothing (0.9%), electronics stores (0.7%).
Published on 2025-12-16

US Retail Sales Stall
Retail sales in the US flattened in October from September 2025, following a downwardly revised 0.1% rise in the previous period, below forecasts of a 0.1% rise. Sales excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, which are used to calculate GDP, soared 0.8%, rebounding from a 0.1% fall in September.
Published on 2025-12-16

US Retail Sales Stall
Retail sales in the US flattened in October from September 2025, following a downwardly revised 0.1% rise in the previous period, and below forecasts of a 0.1% rise. However, sales excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, which are used to calculate GDP, soared 0.8%, rebounding from a 0.1% fall in September and much higher than expectations of 0.4%. Sales at auto dealers were down 1.6% and other declines were also seen at gasoline stations (-0.8%), building material & garden equipment dealers (-0.9%), health & personal care stores (-0.6%), and food services & drinking places (-0.4%). Such declines were partially offset by rises in sales at furniture & home furnishing stores (2.3%), sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (1.9%), nonstore retailers (1.8%), miscellaneous store retailers (1.5%), clothing (0.9%), electronics stores (0.7%), general merchandise stores (0.5%) and food & beverages stores (0.3%).
Published on 2025-12-16

US Retail Sales Stall
Retail sales in the US flattened in October from September 2025, following a downwardly revised 0.1% rise in the previous period, below forecasts of a 0.1% rise. Sales excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, which are used to calculate GDP, soared 0.8%, rebounding from a 0.1% fall in September. Sales rose the most at miscellaneous store retailers (2.2%), gasoline stations (1.9%), furniture & home furnishing stores (2.3%), and health & personal care stores (1.3%). Other increases were observed in sales at food & beverage stores (0.1%), grocery stores (0.3%), electronics & appliance stores (0.7%), and general merchandise stores (0.5%). On the other hand, sales fell for motor vehicle & parts dealers (-1.6%), clothing & clothing accessories stores (-0.9%), sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (-1.7%), building material & garden equipment & supplies dealers (-0.9%), and food services & drinking places (-0.4%).
Published on 2025-12-16

US Retail Sales Stall
Retail sales in the US flattened in October from September 2025, following a downwardly revised 0.1% rise in the previous period, and below forecasts of a 0.1% rise. However, sales excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, which are used to calculate GDP, soared 0.8%, rebounding from a 0.1% fall in September and much higher than expectations of 0.4%. Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers were down 1.6% and other declines were also seen at building material & garden equipment dealers (-0.9%), gasoline stations (-0.8%), health & personal care stores (-0.6%), and food services & drinking places (-0.4%). Such declines were partially offset by rises in sales at furniture & home furnishing stores (2.3%), sporting goods, musical instrument, & book stores (1.9%), nonstore retailers (1.8%), miscellaneous store retailers (1.5%), clothing (0.9%), electronics stores (0.7%), general merchandise stores (0.5%) and food & beverages stores (0.3%).
Published on 2025-12-16

US Retail Sales Rise Less Than Expected
Retail sales in the US went up 0.2% month-over-month in September 2025, the smallest increase in four months, following a 0.6% rise in August, and below forecasts of a 0.4% gain. Sales rose the most at miscellaneous store retailers (2.9%) and gasoline stations (2%) but fell for sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (-2.5%), clothing (-0.7%) and nonstore retailers (-0.7%).
Published on 2025-11-25

US Retail Sales Rise Less Than Expected
Retail sales in the US went up 0.2% month-over-month in September 2025, the smallest increase in four months, following a 0.6% rise in August, and below forecasts of a 0.4% gain. Sales rose the most at miscellaneous store retailers (2.9%) and gasoline stations (2%). Other increases were also seen in sales at health & personal care stores (1.1%), food services & drinking places (0.7%), furniture stores (0.6%), food and beverages stores (0.2%), building material & garden equipment dealers (0.2%), and general merchandise stores (0.1%). On the other hand, sales fell for sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (-2.5%), clothing (-0.7%) and nonstore retailers (-0.7%), electronics & appliance stores (-0.5%), and motor vehicles & parts (-0.3%). Meanwhile, sales excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, which are used to calculate GDP, declined 0.1%, following a 0.6% gain in August, and compared to forecasts of a 0.3% rise.
Published on 2025-11-25

US Retail Sales Rise Less Than Expected
Retail sales in the US went up 0.2% month-over-month in September 2025, the smallest increase in four months, following a 0.6% rise in August, and below forecasts of a 0.4% gain. Sales rose the most at miscellaneous store retailers (2.9%) and gasoline stations (2%). Other increases were also seen in sales at health & personal care stores (1.1%), food services & drinking places (0.7%), furniture stores (0.6%), food and beverages stores (0.2%), building material & garden equipment dealers (0.2%), and general merchandise stores (0.1%). On the other hand, sales fell for sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (-2.5%), clothing (-0.7%) and nonstore retailers (-0.7%), electronics & appliance stores (-0.5%), and motor vehicles & parts (-0.3%).
Published on 2025-11-25

US Retail Sales Surprise to the Upside Again
Retail sales in the US increased 0.6% month-over-month in August 2025, the same as an upwardly revised 0.6% rise in July and beating once again market expectations of a smaller 0.2% gain. Biggest increases were seen in sales at nonstore retailers (2%); clothing stores (1%); sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & books (0.8%); food services & drinking places (0.7%); gasoline stations (0.5%); and motor vehicles (0.5%).
Published on 2025-09-16