There were $447.7 billion of retail and food service sales in September (after adjustment for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences but not for price changes), a monthly increase of 0.1 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Retail sales increased 2.4 percent from September 2014.
Core retail sales – excluding automobiles and parts – fell 0.3 percent from the previous month but increased 0.8 percent from September 2014.
Retail trade sales were flat, virtually unchanged from August, but rose 1.7 percent above last year’s level. Year over year sales from food services and drinking places, as well as motor vehicle and parts dealers saw strong year over year improvements, rising 7.9 and 8.8 percent respectively.
Motor vehicles and parts dealers also saw strong monthly gains, with sales improving 1.7 percent from August. Conversely, sales at gasoline stations fell 3.2 percent on the month and have fallen 19.7 percent from this time last year.
Read the Census release.
