U.S. Retail Sales1992-2020 Data | 2021-2023 Forecast | Calendar | Historical

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.

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%.

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.

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.