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US Retail Sales Unexpectedly Rise in June
US retail trade rose 0.6 percent from a month earlier in June 2021, following a revised 1.7 percent decline in May and easily beating market expectations of a 0.4 percent decline, as demand for goods remained strong despite the recent shift towards spending to services. Sales rose at electronics & appliance stores, gasoline stations, clothing & clothing accessories stores, general merchandise stores, miscellaneous store retailers, and restaurants and bars. Sales of motor vehicles, however, dropped 2.0 percent, as a global semiconductor supply squeeze hit production. Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales increased 1.1 percent last month after a 1.4 percent decrease in May.
Published on 2021-07-16

US Retail Sales Fall More than Expected
Retail sales in the US shrank 1.3% month-over-month in May of 2021, reversing from a 0.9% rise in April and much worse than market forecast of a 0.8% drop as Americans shifted spending to services as the economy reopens and travel picks up and as fiscal support faded after a cash injection in March. It is the first decline in 3 months, with sales at building materials and garden equipment (-5.9%), autos (-3.9%), and electronics stores (-3.4%) recording the biggest decreases. Other declines were also seen at miscellaneous store retailers (-5%), general merchandise stores (-3.3%), furniture (-2.1%) and sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (-0.8%). In contrast, increases were seen at clothing (3%), health and personal care stores (1.8%), food services and drinking places (1.8%), food and beverages stores (1%) and gasoline stations (0.7%).
Published on 2021-06-15

US Retail Sales Disappoint
Retail sales in the US unexpectedly stalled in April of 2021, disappointing markets that expected a 1% increase. It follows an upwardly revised 10.7% surge in March when the first round of stimulus checks was sent to most households. Falls in sales at clothing stores (-5.1%), general merchandise stores (-4.9%), sporting goods, hobby, musical instruments and books (-3.6%), gasoline stations (-1.1%) and nonstore retailers (-0.6%), offset rises at motor vehicles and part dealers (2.9%), food services and drinking places (3%) and electronics (1.2%). The so-called core retail sales, which exclude automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services and which correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of GDP, dropped 1.5%. Still, retail sales are likely to rebound in coming months amid record saving and as the economy continues to recover and state and local governments further ease restrictions on businesses.
Published on 2021-05-14

US Retail Sales Rise More than Expected
Retail sales in the US jumped 9.8% mom in March of 2021, following a downwardly revised 2.7% fall in the previous month and easily beating market forecasts of a 5.9% gain. It is the biggest increase since May of 2020, as more businesses reopened, the $1,400 checks were sent starting in mid-March and the weather improved after unusually cold temperatures and winter storms in Texas and some other parts of the South region in February. Double-digit increases were seen for sporting goods (23.5%), clothing (18.3%), motor vehicles (15.1%), food services and drinking places (13.4%), building materials (12.1%), gasoline stations (10.9%), electronics and appliances (10.5%). Gains were also recorded for miscellaneous store retailers (9%), general merchandise stores (9%), nonstore retailers (6%), furniture (5.9%), health and personal care (5.7%) and food and beverages (0.7%).
Published on 2021-04-15

US Retail Sales Fall Much More than Expected
Retail sales in the US shrank 3 percent month-over-month in February of 2021, following an upwardly revised 7.6 percent jump in January and much worse than market forecasts of a 0.5 percent fall. It is the biggest decline since a record drop in April of 2020 amid unusually cold weather and winter storms in Texas and some other parts of the South region. The biggest decreases were seen in sales at department stores (-8.4 percent); sporting goods, hobby, musical instruments and book stores (-7.5 percent); nonstore retailers (-5.4 percent); auto dealers (-4.3 percent); furniture (-3.8 percent); miscellaneous retailers (-3.4 percent); building material and garden equipment (-3 percent); clothing (-2.8 percent); food services and drinking places (-2.5 percent); electronics and appliances (-1.9 percent); and health and personal care (-1.3 percent). In contrast, sales at gasoline stations jumped 3.6 percent.
Published on 2021-03-16

US Retail Sales Beat Forecasts
Retail sales in the US jumped 5.3 percent month-over-month in January of 2021, following an upwardly revised 1 percent drop in the previous month, and beating market forecasts of a 1.1 percent increase. It is the strongest gain since June, in a sign new stimulus checks helped to boost consumer spending. Biggest increases were seen in sales at electronics and appliance stores (14.7 percent); nonstore retailers (11 percent); furniture (12 percent); sporting goods, hobby, musical instruments (8 percent); and food and drinking places (6.9 percent). Core retail sales which exclude automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services which correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of gross domestic product, surged 6 percent, rebounding from a 2.4 percent fall in December.
Published on 2021-02-17

US Retail Sales Unexpectedly Drop in December
US retail trade fell 0.7 percent from a month earlier in December 2020, following a revised 1.4 percent decline in November and compared with market expectations of a flat reading. That was also the third consecutive month of decline in consumption, amid record COVID-19 infections, high unemployment levels and lack of government's support. Receipts declined at electronics & appliance stores (-4.9 percent vs -8.3 percent in November), restaurants and bars (-4.5 percent vs -3.6 percent), food & beverage stores (-1.4 percent vs 1.5 percent), general merchandise stores (-1.2 percent vs -1.3 percent), sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument & books stores (-0.8 percent vs -1.7 percent), and furniture stores (-0.6 percent vs -2.1 percent). In addition, online trade slumped 5.8 percent, accelerating from a 1.6 percent decrease in the previous month.
Published on 2021-01-15

US Retail Sales Fall More than Expected
Retail sales in the US sank 1.1% mom in November of 2020, following a revised 0.1% fall in October and worse than forecasts of a 0.3% drop. It is the second consecutive decline in retail sales amid a surge in coronavirus cases and lower income as unemployment benefits are set to expire. Sales at clothing stores fell the most (-6.8%), followed by food services and drinking places (-4%); electronics and appliance stores (-3.5%); gasoline stations (-2.4%) and motor vehicles and parts dealers (-1.7%). Other declines were also seen in sales at furniture stores (-1.1%); general merchandise stores (-1%); health and personal care (-0.7%); sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and book (-0.6%); and miscellaneous (-0.5%). In contrast, increases were seen at food and beverages stores (1.6%) and building material dealers (1.1%). Core retail sales which exclude automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services went down 0.5%.
Published on 2020-12-16

US Retail Sales Rise Less than Expected
Retail sales in the US edged up 0.3% mom in October, following a downwardly revised 1.6% gain in September and below forecasts of a 0.5% increase. Sales at motor vehicles dealers (0.4% vs 2.9%) and gasoline stations (0.4% vs 2%) rose at a slower pace while sales declined at furniture stores (-0.4% vs 0.6%); food and beverages (-0.2% vs 0.2%); health and personal care (-0.1% vs 1.3%); clothing (-0.2% vs 13.6%); sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and book (-4.2% vs 8%); general merchandise stores (-1.1% vs 1.7%); miscellaneous retailers (-0.9% vs 1.1%); and food services and drinking places (-0.1% vs 2.4%). In contrast, sales rebounded at electronics and appliances (1.2% vs -1.1%) and nonstore retailers (3.1% vs -1.7) and rose faster at building material dealers (0.9% vs 0.4%). Retail sales could fall further in the coming months amid renewed restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus and as a government programs providing benefits to unemployed are set to expire.
Published on 2020-11-17

US Retail Sales Above Forecasts
Retail sales in the US jumped 1.9% month-over-month in September of 2020, following a 0.6% gain in August and beating forecasts of a 0.7% increase. It is the biggest rise in three months, with sales at clothing stores (11%); department stores (9.7%); sporting goods (5.7%); and auto dealers (4% ) recording the highest increases. Sales also went up at food services and drinking places (2.1% ); health and personal care stores (1.7%); gasoline stations (1.5%); miscellaneous store retailers (1.1%); building material and garden equipment (0.6%); nonstore retailers (0.5%); and furniture stores (0.5%). In contrast, sales fell at electronics and appliance stores (-1.6%). Retail sales excluding food services, car dealers, building-materials stores and gasoline stations, the so-called control group sales seen as a more reliable gauge of demand, increased 1.4%. Year-on-year, retail sales went up 5.4%, the strongest annual gain so far in 2020.
Published on 2020-10-16

US Retail Sales Below Forecasts
Retail sales in the US increased 0.6 percent month-over-month in August of 2020, following a downwardly revised 0.9 percent gain in July and compared to forecasts of a 1 percent increase as unemployment benefits were reduced and support for small businesses dried up. Sales rose the most for food services and drinking (4.7 percent), clothing (2.9 percent), furniture (2.1 percent), and building materials and garden equipment (2 percent). Sales at gasoline stations edged up 0.4 percent and those of autos 0.2 percent. Declines were seen in sales at department stores (-2.3 percent), grocery stores (-1.6 percent), sporting goods, hobby and music (-5.7 percent). Core retail sales, which correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of GDP, fell 0.1 percent, after a 0.9 percent increase in July.
Published on 2020-09-16

US Retail Sales Rise Less than Forecast
US retail sales rose 1.2 percent from a month earlier in July 2020, easing from an upwardly revised 8.4 percent growth in June and missing market expectations of 1.9 percent advance. The latest reading suggested that a resurgence in COVID-19 infections and a reduction in unemployment benefit checks likely weighed on domestic demand. There were increases in sales at electronics & appliance stores (22.9 percent vs 37.6 percent in June), gasoline stations (6.2 percent vs 14.8 percent), miscellaneous store retailers (6.2 percent vs 21.7 percent), restaurants & bars (5.0 percent vs 26.7 percent), and health & personal care stores (3.6 percent vs 6.9 percent). At the same time, declines were seen in trade at motor vehicle & parts dealers (-1.2 percent vs 9.1 percent), building materials stores (-2.9 percent vs 0.8 percent) and sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (-5.0 percent vs 27.6 percent).
Published on 2020-08-14

US Retail Sales Rise More than Expected
Retail sales in the US surged 7.5% month-over-month in June of 2020, following an upwardly revised record 18.2% rise in May. Figures beat market forecasts of a 5% gain as more businesses reopened and domestic trade continues to recover from a slump in April due to the coronavirus lockdown. The biggest increases were seen in sales at clothing stores (105.1%); electronics and appliances (37.4%); furniture (32.5%); sporting goods, music and books (26.5%); food services and drinking places (20%); miscellaneous (17.7%); and gasoline stations (15.3%). Sales also increased at motor vehicle dealers (8.2%); health and personal care (3.5%); and general merchandise (2.7%). In contrast, sales fell for nonstore retailers (-2.4%); food and beverages stores (-1.2%); and building material and gardening equipment (-0.3%). Year-on-year, retail sales went up 1.1%.
Published on 2020-07-16

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