There were $446.5 billion of retail and food services sales in July (after adjustment for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences but not for price changes), according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This level represented an increase of 0.6 percent from the previous month, and a 2.4 percent increase from July of last year.
Core retail sales – excluding automobiles and parts – increased 0.4 percent from the previous month, and 1.3 percent from the previous year.
Retail trade sales increased by 0.6 percent from June, and 1.6 percent from July 2014. Motor vehicle parts and dealers’ sales increased by 1.4 percent on the month, and 6.9 percent on the year. Conversely, sales at gasoline stations declined 15.2 percent from last year. Sales at food services and drinking places were up 9.0 percent from last July.
Read the Census release.
