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U.S. retail sales on the rise again in March, after recent declines
ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES
U.S. Economy
Good news came from the Retail sales report, as it shows improvement after months of deterioration, as motor vehicle and parts dealers sales lift retails sales.
Retail sales including food services grew in March by 0.6 % on the seasonally adjusted basis to $494.6 billion, reported by the Commerce Department. Strong sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers, have contributed to overall increase in retail sales.
Sales at dealers of motor vehicles and parts bounced back from a February decline to advance 2.01 %, a gain that wasn’t too big a surprise considering the monthly vehicle sales report.
It seems, that confidence of the Consumers is ot the rise, as they return to shops in March. Improving Retail sales are definitely good sign for the U.S. Economy. As the consumer spending is one of the key drivers of the GDP.
Higher retail spending, in turn, has spurred companies to boost their inventories in anticipation of rising sales. Retail sales grew by 4.5 % over the past 12 months, meanwhile sales excluding volatile motor vehicle and parts sales, increased less than overall retail sales, over the last 12 months.
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Sales excluding motor vehicle and parts increased sequentially less than a half of total retail and food services sales growth by 0.2 % on the seasonally adjusted basis, led by sales increases in online shopping, furniture and home furnishings stores. Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores sales fell.
Some economists prefer core sales over the total retail and food services sales, because they believe it provides a better idea of longer-term retail sales trends.
The retail sales bring back the optimism to the markets, as it data breaks the negative trend of economic reports.
Excluding the volatile auto sector sales grew by 4.4 % over the past 12 months.
Sales of essentials have increased by smaller rate than a month ago, sales advanced by 0.1 % on the seasonally adjusted basis, led by increases in food, beverage stores, food services and drinking places sales. Over the past 12 months, sales of essentials grew by 4.3 % to $41.4 billion.
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Retail Sales
In March, sales improved 1.4% at health and personal care stores, internet retailers increased by 0.8%, electronics and appliance stores increased by 0.5%.
Meanwhile, sales declined -0.3% at department stores, clothing and accessories stores -0.8%.
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Retail Sales by Category
(In millions $)
ADVANCE
MONTHLY SALES
( in millions $) |
March 2018
adv. |
Feb. 2018
adv. |
Jan. 2018
adv. |
Dec. 2017
adv. |
Nov. 2017
adv. |
Oct. 2017
adv. |
| Retail & food services
total |
|
494,555 |
491,795 |
492,343 |
493,300 |
493,643 |
488,863 |
| Total excl. motor
vehicle & parts |
|
393,260 |
392,497 |
391,685 |
391,646 |
391,831 |
386,237 |
| Retail |
|
436,540 |
434,004 |
434,711 |
435,673 |
436,500 |
432,041 |
| GAFO |
|
- |
107,975 |
108,045 |
107,949 |
108,677 |
107,964 |
| Motor vehicle & parts dealers |
|
101,295 |
99,298 |
100,658 |
101,654 |
101,812 |
102,626 |
| Auto & other motor veh. dealers |
|
93,741 |
91,895 |
93,143 |
93,911 |
94,243 |
95,188 |
| Furniture & home furnishings
stores |
|
9,926 |
9,856 |
9,822 |
9,863 |
9,969 |
9,896 |
| Electronics & appliance stores |
|
8,217 |
8,175 |
8,271 |
8,153 |
8,423 |
8,210 |
| Appl. TV & camera |
|
- |
5,936 |
5,941 |
5,887 |
5,993 |
5,934 |
| Computer & software stores |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Building mat. &
garden eq. & supplies dealers |
|
32,630 |
32,824 |
32,204 |
32,653 |
32,597 |
32,506 |
| Building mat. & supplies dealers |
|
- |
28,364 |
27,797 |
28,190 |
28,230 |
28,225 |
| Food & beverage stores |
|
61,345 |
61,241 |
61,061 |
61,214 |
60,994 |
60,697 |
| Grocery stores |
|
54,678 |
54,579 |
54,418 |
54,758 |
54,332 |
54,063 |
| Beer, wine & liquor stores |
|
- |
4,665 |
4,652 |
4,499 |
4,622 |
4,614 |
| Health & personal care stores |
|
27,664 |
27,282 |
27,591 |
27,720 |
28,100 |
27,996 |
| Pharmacies & drug stores |
|
- |
22,347 |
22,739 |
22,811 |
23,082 |
23,034 |
| Gasoline stations |
|
41,363 |
41,501 |
41,437 |
40,758 |
40,484 |
39,346 |
| Clothing & clothing accessories
stores |
|
21,977 |
22,154 |
22,080 |
21,849 |
22,138 |
21,970 |
| Men's clothing stores |
|
- |
792 |
796 |
751 |
765 |
766 |
| Women's clothing stores |
|
- |
3,281 |
3,288 |
3,263 |
3,301 |
3,301 |
| Shoe stores |
|
- |
2,880 |
2,946 |
2,941 |
2,987 |
2,949 |
| Sporting goods, hobby, book &
music |
|
6,943 |
7,068 |
6,815 |
6,910 |
7,210 |
7,218 |
| General merchandise stores |
|
58,474 |
58,327 |
58,679 |
58,826 |
58,535 |
58,302 |
| Department stores ex. LD |
|
12,518 |
12,553 |
12,707 |
12,622 |
12,749 |
12,722 |
| Other general merchandise
stores |
|
- |
45,774 |
45,972 |
46,204 |
45,786 |
45,580 |
| Warehouse clubs & superstores |
|
- |
39,363 |
39,333 |
39,779 |
39,399 |
39,244 |
| All other gen. merchandise
stores |
|
- |
6,411 |
6,639 |
6,425 |
6,387 |
6,336 |
| Miscellaneous store retailers |
|
11,231 |
11,266 |
11,582 |
11,077 |
11,357 |
10,860 |
| Nonstore retailers |
|
55,475 |
55,012 |
54,511 |
54,996 |
54,881 |
52,414 |
| Electronic shopping & mail-order
houses |
|
- |
48,471 |
47,489 |
47,877 |
48,085 |
46,069 |
| Food services & drinking places |
|
58,015 |
57,791 |
57,632 |
57,627 |
57,143 |
56,822 |
ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES
( in % Y / Y) |
March 2018
adv. |
Feb. 2018
adv. |
Jan. 2018
adv. |
Dec. 2017
adv. |
Nov. 2017
adv. |
Oct. 2017
adv. |
| Retail & food services
total |
4.53 % |
4.22 % |
3.95 % |
4.85 % |
5.93 % |
5.1 % |
| Total excl. motor
vehicle & parts |
4.4 % |
4.48 % |
4.25 % |
5.53 % |
5.97 % |
4.71 % |
| Retail |
4.76 % |
4.37 % |
4.16 % |
4.92 % |
6.42 % |
5.41 % |
| GAFO |
- % |
3.09 % |
2.13 % |
3.61 % |
3.9 % |
3.03 % |
| Motor vehicle & parts dealers
|
5.05 % |
3.23 % |
2.8 % |
2.32 % |
5.76 % |
6.6 % |
| Auto & other motor veh. dealers
|
5.42 % |
3.09 % |
2.81 % |
2.39 % |
5.76 % |
6.91 % |
| Furniture & home furnishings
stores |
4.32 % |
6.53 % |
5.91 % |
8.86 % |
9.06 % |
7.55 % |
| Electronics & appliance stores
|
1.41 % |
0.06 % |
0.35 % |
-0.11 % |
2.11 % |
-0.89 % |
| Appl. TV & camera |
- % |
-1 % |
-2.06 % |
-2.32 % |
-3.12 % |
-3.9 % |
| Computer & software stores
|
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
| Building mat. &
garden eq. & supplies dealers |
5.72 % |
3.89 % |
4.36 % |
8.13 % |
9.25 % |
9.78 % |
| Building mat. & supplies dealers |
- % |
4.33 % |
3.09 % |
6.74 % |
7.97 % |
8.95 % |
| Food & beverage stores |
2.96 % |
2.79 % |
2.63 % |
3.32 % |
2.72 % |
1.93 % |
| Grocery stores |
2.76 % |
2.66 % |
2.67 % |
3.26 % |
2.69 % |
1.74 % |
| Beer, wine & liquor stores |
- % |
6.51 % |
5.03 % |
5.51 % |
2.92 % |
4.25 % |
| Health & personal care stores |
0.79 % |
-5.92 % |
-4.31 % |
-3.24 % |
-1.36 % |
-1.15 % |
| Pharmacies & drug stores |
- % |
-8.72 % |
-5.96 % |
-4.46 % |
-3.09 % |
-3.41 % |
| Gasoline stations |
8.58 % |
12.56 % |
11.94 % |
12.26 % |
15.06 % |
12.06 % |
| Clothing & clothing accessories
stores |
2.2 % |
5.48 % |
1.47 % |
1.71 % |
3.17 % |
2.47 % |
| Men's clothing stores |
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
| Women's clothing stores |
- % |
-2.03 % |
-4.53 % |
-2.31 % |
-2.63 % |
-2.31 % |
| Shoe stores |
- % |
2.93 % |
1.34 % |
0.1 % |
2.02 % |
2.75 % |
| Sporting goods, hobby, book &
music |
-4.26 % |
-6.99 % |
-10.09 % |
-7.96 % |
-4.17 % |
-6.79 % |
| General merchandise stores
|
3.56 % |
3.95 % |
4.13 % |
6.38 % |
5.43 % |
5.21 % |
| Department stores ex. LD |
-0.41 %
|
-0.17 %
|
0.01 %
|
0.25 %
|
0.66 %
|
-0.07 %
|
| Other general merchandise
stores |
- % |
5.13 % |
5.34 % |
8.18 % |
6.83 % |
6.79 % |
| Warehouse clubs & superstores |
- % |
4.84 % |
4.75 % |
7.85 % |
6.6 % |
6.61 % |
| All other gen. merchandise
stores |
- % |
6.96 % |
8.94 % |
10.28 % |
8.27 % |
7.92 % |
| Miscellaneous store retailers
|
4.09 % |
3.29 % |
8.07 % |
2.95 % |
5.08 % |
-0.04 % |
| Nonstore retailers |
9.54 % |
11.03 % |
10.52 % |
11.74 % |
13.59 % |
9.03 % |
| Electronic shopping & mail-order
houses |
- % |
10.61 % |
9.35 % |
11 % |
12.8 % |
8.97 % |
| Food services & drinking places
|
2.83 % |
3.12 % |
2.45 % |
4.36 % |
2.31 % |
2.84 % |
ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES
( in % M / M) |
March 2018
adv. |
Feb. 2018
adv. |
Jan. 2018
adv. |
Dec. 2017
adv. |
Nov. 2017
adv. |
Oct. 2017
adv. |
| Retail & food services
total |
0.56 % |
-0.11 % |
-0.19 % |
-0.07 % |
0.98 % |
0.71 % |
| Total excl. motor
vehicle & parts |
0.19 % |
0.21 % |
0.01 % |
-0.05 % |
1.45 % |
0.53 % |
| Retail |
0.58 % |
-0.16 % |
-0.22 % |
-0.19 % |
1.03 % |
0.77 % |
| GAFO |
- % |
-0.06 % |
0.09 % |
-0.67 % |
0.66 % |
1.2 % |
| Motor vehicle & parts dealers
|
2.01 % |
-1.35 % |
-0.98 % |
-0.16 % |
-0.79 % |
1.39 % |
| Auto & other motor veh. dealers
|
2.01 % |
-1.34 % |
-0.82 % |
-0.35 % |
-0.99 % |
1.66 % |
| Furniture & home furnishings
stores |
0.71 % |
0.35 % |
-0.42 % |
-1.06 % |
0.74 % |
2.63 % |
| Electronics & appliance stores
|
0.51 % |
-1.16 % |
1.45 % |
-3.21 % |
2.59 % |
2.39 % |
| Appl. TV & camera |
- % |
-0.08 % |
0.92 % |
-1.77 % |
0.99 % |
3.47 % |
| Computer & software stores
|
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| Building mat. &
garden eq. & supplies dealers |
-0.59 % |
1.93 % |
-1.38 % |
0.17 % |
0.28 % |
-0.03 % |
| Building mat. & supplies dealers |
- % |
2.04 % |
-1.39 % |
-0.14 % |
0.02 % |
-0.07 % |
| Food & beverage stores |
0.17 % |
0.29 % |
-0.25 % |
0.36 % |
0.49 % |
0.57 % |
| Grocery stores |
0.18 % |
0.3 % |
-0.62 % |
0.78 % |
0.5 % |
0.35 % |
| Beer, wine & liquor stores |
- % |
0.28 % |
3.4 % |
-2.66 % |
0.17 % |
2.24 % |
| Health & personal care stores |
1.4 % |
-1.12 % |
-0.47 % |
-1.35 % |
0.37 % |
0.71 % |
| Pharmacies & drug stores |
- % |
-1.72 % |
-0.32 % |
-1.17 % |
0.21 % |
0.96 % |
| Gasoline stations |
-0.33 % |
0.15 % |
1.67 % |
0.68 % |
2.89 % |
-0.05 % |
| Clothing & clothing accessories
stores |
-0.8 % |
0.34 % |
1.06 % |
-1.31 % |
0.76 % |
1.15 % |
| Men's clothing stores |
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
- % |
| Women's clothing stores |
- % |
-0.21 % |
0.77 % |
-1.15 % |
0 % |
1.82 % |
| Shoe stores |
- % |
-2.24 % |
0.17 % |
-1.54 % |
1.29 % |
-0.27 % |
| Sporting goods, hobby, book &
music |
-1.77 % |
3.71 % |
-1.37 % |
-4.16 % |
-0.11 % |
2.97 % |
| General merchandise stores
|
0.25 % |
-0.6 % |
-0.25 % |
0.5 % |
0.4 % |
0.72 % |
| Department stores ex. LD |
-0.28 % |
-1.21 % |
0.67 % |
-1 % |
0.21 % |
0.66 % |
| Other general merchandise
stores |
- % |
-0.43 % |
-0.5 % |
0.91 % |
0.45 % |
0.73 % |
| Warehouse clubs &
superstores |
- % |
0.08 % |
-1.12 % |
0.96 % |
0.39 % |
0.98 % |
| All other gen. merchandise
stores |
- % |
-3.43 % |
3.33 % |
0.59 % |
0.8 % |
-0.8 % |
| Miscellaneous store retailers
|
-0.31 % |
-2.73 % |
4.56 % |
-2.47 % |
4.58 % |
-0.4 % |
| Nonstore retailers |
0.84 % |
0.92 % |
-0.88 % |
0.21 % |
4.71 % |
0.19 % |
| Electronic shopping & mail-order
houses |
- % |
2.07 % |
-0.81 % |
-0.43 % |
4.38 % |
0.41 % |
| Food services & drinking places
|
0.39 % |
0.28 % |
0.01 % |
0.85 % |
0.56 % |
0.26 % |
Source: Department of Commerce
• Census.gov
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