There were $447.3 billion of retail and food service sales in October (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 1.7 percent from October 2014.
Core retail sales – excluding automobile and parts grew 0.2 percent after declining 0.4 percent in September. Year-over-year, sales excluding automobiles and parts increased 0.5 percent.
Retail trade sales were flat on the month once again, but increased 1.2 percent from last year’s level. Nonstore retailers and sales of motor vehicles and parts also saw strong year-over-year gains, rising 7.1 and 6.2 percent respectively.
Miscellaneous store retailers and nonstore retailers saw the strongest monthly gains, with sales improving 1.8 and 1.4 percent on the month. Sales at gasoline stations saw the largest losses of any group, falling 0.9 percent on the month. Sales at gasoline stations are down 20 percent from October of last year.
Read the Census release.