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US Retail Sales Recovers at Record Pace
Retail sales in the US jumped 17.7 percent from a month earlier in May of 2020, recovering from a record 14.7 percent fall in April, and much better than forecasts of an 8 percent increase. It is the biggest rise on record as Americans went back to work and many stores reopened after the coronavirus lockdown. Biggest increases were seen in stores with clothing (188 percent); furniture (89.7 percent); sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (88.2 percent); electronics and appliances (50.5 percent); motor vehicles (44.1 percent); food services and drinking places (29.1 percent); miscellaneous stores (13.6 percent); and gasoline stations (12.8 percent). Still, compared to the same month in 2019, retail sales fell 6.1 percent. Also, sales were 12.7 percent lower in the three months to May than in the 3 months to February before the pandemic started.
Published on 2020-06-16

US Retail Sales Plunge at Record Pace
Retail sales in the US sank 16.4 percent from a month earlier in April of 2020, worse than forecasts of a 12 percent drop. It is the sharpest decrease in retail sales on record due to the coronavirus pandemic which forced Americans to stay at home and many businesses to close. Biggest declines were seen in sales of clothing and accessories (-78.8 percent), electronics and appliances (-60.6 percent) and furniture (-58.7 percent). Sales at gasoline stations decreased 28.8 percent after oil prices turned negative for the first time ever in April. Other decreases were also seen in food and beverage stores (-13.1 percent) and food services and drinking places (-29.5 percent). Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales tumbled 15.3 percent. Year-on-year, retail sales went down 21.6 percent, also a record drop.
Published on 2020-05-15

US March Retail Sales Plunges Less Than Estimated
Retail sales in the US plunged 8.4 percent from a month earlier in March 2020, compared with a preliminary estimate of 8.7 percent, revised figures showed. It was still the biggest decline on record as the coronavirus crisis hit the economy. The biggest decreases were recorded for clothing, furniture, restaurants & bars, motor vehicles & parts, sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument & books, and electronics & appliances. Receipts at gasoline stations also fell sharply as consumers cut back spending on fuel and as oil prices plunged. On the other hand, sales of food & beverages and health & personal care products rose.
Published on 2020-04-27

US Retail Sales Fall at a Record Pace
Retail sales in the US plunged 8.7% month-over-month in March of 2020, following a downwardly revised 0.4% drop in February and worse than market forecasts of a 8% drop. It is the biggest decline on record, in a sign that the coronavirus impact on the economy may be harder than anticipated. The biggest decreases were recorded for clothing (-50.5%); furniture (-26.8%); food services and drinking places (-26.5%); motor vehicles (-25.6%); sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book stores (-23.3%); gasoline stations (-17.2%); electronics and appliances (-15.1%) and miscellaneous (-14.3%). On the other hand, rises were seen in sales of food and beverages (25.6%) and health and personal care (4.3%). Year-on-year, retail sales fell 6.2%.
Published on 2020-04-15

US Retail Sales Post Biggest Fall in Over a Year
Retail sales in the US dropped 0.5 percent from a month earlier in February 2020, following an upwardly revised 0.6 percent increase in January and missing market expectations of a 0.2 percent rise. It was the largest decline in trade since December 2018 as consumers cut back spending on a range of products, including motor vehicles & parts (-0.9 percent vs 0.8 percent), furniture (-0.4 percent vs 3.2 percent), electronics & appliances (-1.4 percent vs 0.6 percent), building materials (-1.3 percent vs 3.3 percent), health & personal care products (-0.1 percent vs 0.8 percent) and clothing (-1.2 percent vs -1.4 percent). Receipts also declined at gasoline stations (-2.8 percent vs -0.4 percent), restaurants & bars (-0.5 percent vs 0.8 percent) and general merchandise stores (-0.1 percent vs 0.5 percent). Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services retail sales were unchanged last month after increasing by 0.4 percent in January.
Published on 2020-03-17

US Retail Sales In Line with Expectations in January
Retail sales in the US increased 0.3% month-over-month in January of 2020, slightly higher than a downwardly revised 0.2% gain in December and in line with market expectations. Sales rebounded at motor vehicle and part dealers (0.2% vs -1.7% in December), furniture stores (0.6% vs -1.6%), miscellaneous retailers (2.3% vs -1.4%) and nonstore retailers (0.3% vs -0.1). In contrast, receipts at service stations fell 0.5% (+1.7% in December); purchases at electronics and appliance stores decreased 0.5% (+0.4%) and sales at clothing stores went down 3.1% (+2.7% in December), the biggest drop since March of 2009. Excluding autos, retail sales also increased 0.3%, matching forecasts, and following a downwardly revised 0.6% rise in the previous month. Year-on-year, retail sales increased 4.4%, below 5.5% in December.
Published on 2020-02-14

US Retail Sales Rise 0.3% in December
Retail sales in the United States increased 0.3 percent month-over-month in December of 2019, following an upwardly revised 0.3 percent gain in the previous month and matching market expectations. Sales rebounded for food and drinks, clothes, and electronics and appliances and rose faster for gasoline. In contrast, sales of motor vehicles declined. Core retail sales which exclude autos, gasoline, building materials and food services jumped 0.5 percent after falling 0.1 percent in November. Year-on-year, retail sales went up 5.8 percent, higher than 3.3 percent in November. It is the biggest annual increase since August of 2018. Considering full 2019, retail sales went up 3.6 percent, after a near 5 percent gain in 2018 which was the largest in six years and reflected a boost from tax cuts.
Published on 2020-01-16

US Retail Sales Rise Less than Forecast
US retail trade rose 0.2 percent from a month earlier in November 2019, easing from a revised 0.4 percent growth in October and missing market expectations of 0.5 percent. Sales of gasoline and motor vehicles slowed after a jump in the previous month and spending on clothing and restaurants and bars fell more. November figures include Thanksgiving and Black Friday sales but this year the holiday season fell partially in December. Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales were 0.1 percent higher last month, after rising by 0.3 percent in October. Year-on-year, retail sales grew 3.3 percent, compared to 3.2 percent in the previous month.
Published on 2019-12-13

US Retail Sales Rebound in October
US retail trade rose 0.3 percent from a month earlier in October 2019, reversing a 0.3 percent drop in September and beating market expectations of 0.2 percent. The rebound in trade was driven by motor vehicle sales and higher gasoline prices, while declines were seen on purchases of big-ticket household items and clothing. Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales were 0.3 percent higher last month, recovering from the 0.1 percent decline seen a month earlier. Year-on-year, retail sales grew 3.1 percent, compared to 4.1 percent in the previous month.
Published on 2019-11-15

US Retail Sales Post Biggest Drop in 7 Months
US retail trade fell 0.3 percent from a month earlier in September 2019, after an upwardly revised 0.6 percent gain in August and missing market expectations of a 0.3 percent increase. It was the first and biggest decline in retail trade since February, mainly due to lower sales at motor vehicles, building materials, hobbies and online purchases. Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales were unchanged, following an unrevised 0.3 percent gain in August.
Published on 2019-10-16

US Retail Sales Rise More than Expected
US retail trade rose 0.4 percent from a month earlier in August 2019, following a revised 0.8 percent increase in July and beating market expectations of 0.2 percent, boosted by spending on motor vehicles, building materials, healthcare and hobbies. Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales were 0.3 percent higher last month after a 0.9 percent advance in July.
Published on 2019-09-13

US Retail Sales Rise More than Expected
US retail trade jumped 0.7 percent from a month earlier in July 2019, following a revised 0.3 percent increase in June and easily beating market expectations of 0.3 percent, boosted by purchases of a variety of goods. Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales climbed 1 percent last month after a 0.7 percent advance in June.
Published on 2019-08-15

US Retail Sales Beat Expectations
US retail trade rose 0.4 percent from a month earlier in June 2019, the same pace as in May and above market expectations of 0.1 percent, boosted by purchases of motor vehicles and a variety of other goods. Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales jumped 0.7 percent last month after an upwardly revised 0.6 percent increase in May.
Published on 2019-07-16

US Retail Sales Rise in May
US retail trade rose 0.5 percent from a month earlier in May 2019, following an upwardly revised 0.3 percent growth in April and compared to market expectations of 0.6 percent. Sales rose for motor vehicles and a variety of other goods. Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales grew 0.5 percent after an upwardly revised 0.4 percent advance in April.
Published on 2019-06-14

US Retail Sales Unexpectedly Fall
US retail trade dropped 0.2 percent from a month earlier in April 2019, following an upwardly revised 1.7 percent growth in March, which was the biggest increase in sales for one-and-a-half year. April's reading came in below market expectations of a 0.2 percent advance, due to declines in sales of motor vehicles, clothes, appliances, and building materials.
Published on 2019-05-15

US Retail Sales Post Biggest Gain in 1-1/2 Years
US retail trade jumped 1.6 percent from a month earlier in March 2019, following a 0.2 percent drop in February and easily beating market expectations of a 0.9 percent advance. That was the biggest increase in retail trade since September 2017 boosted by sales of motor vehicles and a range of other goods.
Published on 2019-04-18

US Retail Sales Unexpectedly Drop in February
US retail trade fell by 0.2 percent from a month earlier in February 2019, following an upwardly revised 0.7 percent growth in January and missing market expectations of a 0.3 percent gain. Sales fell for furniture, clothing, food and electronics and appliances, as well as building materials and gardening equipment.
Published on 2019-04-01

US Retail Sales Rebound in January
US retail trade rose by 0.2 percent from a month earlier in January 2019, following an upwardly revised 1.6 percent decline in December and beating market expectations of a flat reading. Sales rebounded for sporting goods, musical instruments and books. Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales went up 1.1 percent in January after a downwardly revised 2.3 percent fall in December. Year-on-year, retail trade grew 2.3 percent.
Published on 2019-03-11

US Retail Sales Post Biggest Drop in Over 9 Years
US retail trade fell by 1.2 percent from a month earlier in December 2018, following a revised 0.1 percent growth in November and missing market expectations of 0.2 percent gain. It was the steepest decline in trade since September 2009, as sales fell in almost all categories. Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales dropped 1.7 percent in December after an increase of 1 percent in November.
Published on 2019-02-14

US Retail Sales Rise 0.2% in November
US retail trade rose by 0.2 percent from a month earlier in November 2018, following a revised 1.1 percent growth in October and matching market expectations. Sales of furniture, electronics and a range of other goods was partially offset by a decline in trade at gasoline stations on the back of cheaper fuel prices. Retail sales excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services surged 0.9 percent in November after an upwardly revised 0.7 percent increase in October.
Published on 2018-12-14