There were $447.7 billion of retail and food services sales in August (after adjustment for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences but not for price changes), an increase of 0.2 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Retail sales increased 2.2 percent from August 2014.
Core retail sales – excluding automobiles and parts – increased 0.1 percent from the previous month, and 1.3 percent from the previous year.
Retail trade sales were generally flat, increasing just 0.1 percent from July, but rising 1.4 percent from August 2014. Sales at food services and drinking places increased 8.2 percent and nonstore retailers were up 6.9 percent from last year.
Motor vehicle parts and dealers’ sales increased by 0.7 percent on the month, and 5.7 percent on the year. Conversely, sales at gasoline stations declined 17.2 percent from last year.
Read the Census release.
