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Retail sales fell in February by -0.2 %
ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES
U.S. Economy
In February U.S. retail sales declined by -0.2 % on the seasonally adjusted basis. Since consumer spending is the main source of domestic growth, declining retail sales are generally a negative sign. Sales advanced by 2.9 % for the year, meanwhile sales excluding volatile motor vehicle and parts sales, increased less than overall retail sales, over the last 12 months.
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| Retail Sales |
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In February, sales grew 0.6% at health and personal care stores.
Americans may have also bought spring clothes early, as sales at clothing and clothing accessory stores climbed. However, the weather boost may end up taking away demand later this year, economists warn.
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Fuels & Transportation
Sales of essentials in a potentially worrisome sign, fell at virtually all the establishments that tend to rely on discretionary income — extra money consumers have left over after paying bills and for necessities, sales declined by -0.2 % on the seasonally adjusted basis, where food and beverage stores sales declined the most. Over the past 12 months, sales of essentials have climbed by 2 % to $40.9 billion.
Retail and food services sales excluding motor vehicle and parts fell sequentially smaller than retail and food services sales by -0.4 % on the seasonally adjusted basis, building materials stores and online sales fell faster.
Auto sales often register sharp month-to-month swings and can mask underlying retail trends.
Excluding the volatile auto sector sales advanced by 2.7 % for the year.
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Retail Sales by Category
(In millions $)
ADVANCE
MONTHLY SALES
( in millions $) |
Feb. 2019
adv. |
Jan. 2019
adv. |
Dec. 2018
adv. |
Nov. 2018
adv. |
Oct. 2018
adv. |
| Retail & food services
total |
|
505,969 |
506,977 |
503,380 |
512,200 |
511,616 |
| Total excl. motor
vehicle & parts |
|
402,973 |
404,681 |
399,245 |
407,940 |
408,056 |
| Retail |
|
445,663 |
446,712 |
442,972 |
452,014 |
451,026 |
| GAFO |
|
362,105 |
364,210 |
358,230 |
364,493 |
362,614 |
| Motor vehicle & parts dealers |
|
- |
109,303 |
108,889 |
111,021 |
110,719 |
| Auto & other motor veh. dealers |
|
102,996 |
102,296 |
104,135 |
104,260 |
103,560 |
| Furniture & home furnishings
stores |
|
9,816 |
9,865 |
9,885 |
10,150 |
10,100 |
| Electronics & appliance stores |
|
7,994 |
8,099 |
8,052 |
8,222 |
8,234 |
| Appl. TV & camera |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Computer & software stores |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Building mat. &
garden eq. & supplies dealers |
|
32,951 |
34,471 |
33,222 |
32,851 |
33,341 |
| Building mat. & supplies dealers |
|
- |
29,771 |
29,061 |
28,664 |
28,834 |
| Food & beverage stores |
|
62,526 |
63,278 |
62,382 |
62,520 |
62,472 |
| Grocery stores |
|
55,744 |
56,414 |
55,547 |
55,585 |
55,563 |
| Beer, wine & liquor stores |
|
- |
4,862 |
4,844 |
4,869 |
4,819 |
| Health & personal care stores |
|
29,528 |
29,350 |
28,610 |
29,322 |
28,950 |
| Pharmacies & drug stores |
|
- |
24,110 |
23,627 |
24,302 |
24,030 |
| Gasoline stations |
|
40,868 |
40,471 |
41,015 |
43,447 |
45,442 |
| Clothing & clothing accessories
stores |
|
22,700 |
22,791 |
22,944 |
23,265 |
23,172 |
| Men's clothing stores |
|
- |
864 |
864 |
866 |
849 |
| Women's clothing stores |
|
- |
3,477 |
3,378 |
3,548 |
3,499 |
| Shoe stores |
|
- |
3,185 |
3,204 |
3,258 |
3,207 |
| Sporting goods, hobby, book &
music |
|
6,313 |
6,281 |
5,962 |
6,310 |
6,399 |
| General merchandise stores |
|
59,739 |
59,914 |
59,674 |
60,553 |
60,287 |
| Department stores ex. LD |
|
12,032 |
12,096 |
12,121 |
12,558 |
12,485 |
| Other general merchandise
stores |
|
- |
47,818 |
47,553 |
47,995 |
47,802 |
| Warehouse clubs & superstores |
|
- |
40,681 |
40,477 |
40,637 |
40,633 |
| All other gen. merchandise
stores |
|
- |
7,137 |
7,076 |
7,358 |
7,169 |
| Miscellaneous store retailers |
|
10,464 |
10,639 |
10,657 |
11,539 |
11,097 |
| Nonstore retailers |
|
- |
52,533 |
49,669 |
52,692 |
51,233 |
| Electronic shopping & mail-order
houses |
|
- |
52,533 |
49,669 |
52,692 |
51,233 |
| Food services & drinking places |
|
60,306 |
60,265 |
60,408 |
60,186 |
60,590 |
ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES
( in % Y / Y) |
Feb. 2019
adv. |
Jan. 2019
adv. |
Dec. 2018
adv. |
Nov. 2018
adv. |
Oct. 2018
adv. |
| Retail & food services
total |
2.88 % |
2.97 % |
2.04 % |
3.76 % |
4.65 % |
| Total excl. motor
vehicle & parts |
2.67 % |
3.32 % |
1.94 % |
4.11 % |
5.65 % |
| Retail |
2.69 % |
2.76 % |
1.68 % |
3.55 % |
4.39 % |
| GAFO |
235.36 % |
237.09 % |
231.85 % |
235.39 % |
235.87 % |
| Motor vehicle & parts dealers
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- % |
8.59 % |
7.12 % |
9.05 % |
7.89 % |
| Auto & other motor veh. dealers
|
12.08 % |
9.83 % |
10.89 % |
10.63 % |
8.8 % |
| Furniture & home furnishings
stores |
-0.41 % |
0.44 % |
0.22 % |
1.82 % |
2.06 % |
| Electronics & appliance stores
|
-2.21 % |
-2.08 % |
-1.24 % |
-2.39 % |
0.29 % |
| Appl. TV & camera |
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
| Computer & software stores
|
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
| Building mat. &
garden eq. & supplies dealers |
0.39 % |
7.04 % |
1.74 % |
0.78 % |
2.57 % |
| Building mat. & supplies dealers |
- % |
7.1 % |
3.09 % |
1.54 % |
2.16 % |
| Food & beverage stores |
2.1 % |
3.63 % |
1.91 % |
2.5 % |
2.92 % |
| Grocery stores |
2.13 % |
3.67 % |
1.44 % |
2.31 % |
2.77 % |
| Beer, wine & liquor stores |
- % |
4.51 % |
7.67 % |
5.34 % |
4.44 % |
| Health & personal care stores |
8.23 % |
6.38 % |
3.21 % |
4.35 % |
3.41 % |
| Pharmacies & drug stores |
- % |
6.03 % |
3.58 % |
5.29 % |
4.32 % |
| Gasoline stations |
-1.53 % |
-2.33 % |
0.63 % |
7.32 % |
15.49 % |
| Clothing & clothing accessories
stores |
2.46 % |
3.22 % |
5.01 % |
5.09 % |
5.47 % |
| Men's clothing stores |
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
| Women's clothing stores |
- % |
5.75 % |
3.52 % |
7.48 % |
6 % |
| Shoe stores |
- % |
8.11 % |
8.94 % |
9.07 % |
8.75 % |
| Sporting goods, hobby, book &
music |
-10.68 % |
-7.84 % |
-13.72 % |
-12.48 % |
-11.35 % |
| General merchandise stores
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2.42 % |
2.1 % |
1.44 % |
3.45 % |
3.4 % |
| Department stores ex. LD |
-4.15 %
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-4.81 %
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-3.97 %
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-1.5 %
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-1.86 %
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| Other general merchandise
stores |
- % |
4.02 % |
2.92 % |
4.82 % |
4.87 % |
| Warehouse clubs & superstores |
- % |
3.43 % |
1.75 % |
3.14 % |
3.54 % |
| All other gen. merchandise
stores |
- % |
7.5 % |
10.13 % |
15.2 % |
13.15 % |
| Miscellaneous store retailers
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-7.12 % |
-8.14 % |
-3.79 % |
1.6 % |
2.18 % |
| Nonstore retailers |
- % |
-3.63 % |
-9.69 % |
-3.99 % |
-2.25 % |
| Electronic shopping & mail-order
houses |
- % |
10.62 % |
3.74 % |
9.58 % |
11.21 % |
| Food services & drinking places
|
4.35 % |
4.57 % |
4.83 % |
5.33 % |
6.63 % |
ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES
( in % M / M) |
Feb. 2019
adv. |
Jan. 2019
adv. |
Dec. 2018
adv. |
Nov. 2018
adv. |
Oct. 2018
adv. |
| Retail & food services
total |
-0.2 % |
0.71 % |
-1.72 % |
0.11 % |
0.79 % |
| Total excl. motor
vehicle & parts |
-0.42 % |
1.36 % |
-2.13 % |
-0.03 % |
0.57 % |
| Retail |
-0.23 % |
0.84 % |
-2 % |
0.22 % |
0.88 % |
| GAFO |
-0.58 % |
1.67 % |
-1.72 % |
0.52 % |
0.25 % |
| Motor vehicle & parts dealers
|
- % |
0.38 % |
-1.92 % |
0.27 % |
0.3 % |
| Auto & other motor veh. dealers
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0.68 % |
-1.77 % |
-0.12 % |
0.68 % |
1.65 % |
| Furniture & home furnishings
stores |
-0.5 % |
-0.2 % |
-2.61 % |
0.5 % |
-0.91 % |
| Electronics & appliance stores
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-1.3 % |
0.58 % |
-2.07 % |
-0.15 % |
0.32 % |
| Appl. TV & camera |
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
| Computer & software stores
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| Building mat. &
garden eq. & supplies dealers |
-4.41 % |
3.76 % |
1.13 % |
-1.47 % |
1.39 % |
| Building mat. & supplies dealers |
- % |
2.44 % |
1.39 % |
-0.59 % |
0.42 % |
| Food & beverage stores |
-1.19 % |
1.44 % |
-0.22 % |
0.08 % |
0.22 % |
| Grocery stores |
-1.19 % |
1.56 % |
-0.07 % |
0.04 % |
0.19 % |
| Beer, wine & liquor stores |
- % |
0.37 % |
-0.51 % |
1.04 % |
-0.1 % |
| Health & personal care stores |
0.61 % |
2.59 % |
-2.43 % |
1.28 % |
-0.3 % |
| Pharmacies & drug stores |
- % |
2.04 % |
-2.78 % |
1.13 % |
-0.67 % |
| Gasoline stations |
0.98 % |
-1.33 % |
-5.6 % |
-4.39 % |
3.25 % |
| Clothing & clothing accessories
stores |
-0.4 % |
-0.67 % |
-1.38 % |
0.4 % |
1.02 % |
| Men's clothing stores |
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
| Women's clothing stores |
- % |
2.93 % |
-4.79 % |
1.4 % |
-1.63 % |
| Shoe stores |
- % |
-0.59 % |
-1.66 % |
1.59 % |
5.91 % |
| Sporting goods, hobby, book &
music |
0.51 % |
5.35 % |
-5.52 % |
-1.39 % |
-0.9 % |
| General merchandise stores
|
-0.29 % |
0.4 % |
-1.45 % |
0.44 % |
0.36 % |
| Department stores ex. LD |
-0.53 % |
-0.21 % |
-3.48 % |
0.58 % |
1.2 % |
| Other general merchandise
stores |
- % |
0.56 % |
-0.92 % |
0.4 % |
0.14 % |
| Warehouse clubs &
superstores |
- % |
0.5 % |
-0.39 % |
0.01 % |
0.02 % |
| All other gen. merchandise
stores |
- % |
0.86 % |
-3.83 % |
2.64 % |
0.79 % |
| Miscellaneous store retailers
|
-1.64 % |
-0.17 % |
-7.64 % |
3.98 % |
3.05 % |
| Nonstore retailers |
- % |
5.77 % |
-5.74 % |
2.85 % |
-0.79 % |
| Electronic shopping & mail-order
houses |
- % |
5.77 % |
-5.74 % |
2.85 % |
-0.79 % |
| Food services & drinking places
|
0.07 % |
-0.24 % |
0.37 % |
-0.67 % |
0.12 % |
Source: Department of Commerce
• Census.gov
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