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Retail sales reversed the previous month’s loss in November, rising 0.3%. Auto dealers were primarily responsible for the gain, as core sales (excluding autos and gasoline) rose by just 0.7%. Despite the modest overall rise there were big moves within individual segments. Year-over-year growth held steady at 3.7% in November.



Non-store retailers saw strong gains in November rising 3% over the previous month, about three times their recent average. The strong growth contributed 0.3% to overall growth. Electronics and appliances stores also saw strong growth, rising 2.5%. Rebuilding from Hurricane Sandy likely contributed to the strong 1.6% growth in sales at building materials stores.

Sales fell the most sharply at Gasoline stations, falling 4.0% over the month. The decline in gasoline sales was likely a direct result of lower gasoline prices. Sales also fell unusually sharply at general stores, which were down 0.9%.

Read the Census report.

Consumers increased their spending in September, with retail sales growing 1.1% over the month. The growth in September follows an upwardly revised August growth of 1.2%, making for the third consecutive monthly gain. September’s strength was led by electronics and appliance stores and non-store retailers largely due to iPhone 5 sales and sales at gasoline stations and auto dealers.


Core retail sales (excluding autos and gas) rose by 0.9%, up from the 0.3% the previous month. Growth from a year ago accelerated to 5.4% in September, up from the 5.0% reported in August.

Electronic and appliances saw the strongest gains in September, rising 4.5% over the month, followed by gasoline stations rising 2.5% over the month.

Auto dealers, grocery stores, and building supply stores all posted average to slightly above average growth. Departments stores were the only major category displaying weakness, with sales fall 0.2% in September.

Read the Census report.

Retail sales declined 0.5% in June, the third consecutive monthly decline. Excluding autos, sales fell 0.4% as declines were broad-based in June. Revisions to growth in May were minor, but April sales were revised lower to -0.5% from the previously revised -0.2% reported last month.

Falling gasoline prices played a part in June’s decline as gasoline stations sales led the fall. Building supply stores and sporting goods and hobby stores also experienced larger declines.

The only bright spot to the report was nonstore retailers, but their sales were small and also lagged recent trends.

While retail sales remain above year-ago levels, the growth slowed to 3.8%, the first time growth has been below 4% since August 2010.

Read the report.