There were $447.3 billion of retail and food service sales in February (after adjustment for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes), down 0.1 percent from January, but up 3.1 percent from a year ago, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Core retail sales – excluding automobiles and parts – fell 0.1 percent in February, up from a 0.4 percent decrease in January. Year-over-year, core sales increased 2.1 percent. Retail trade sales fell 0.3 percent on the month, and 2.7 percent on the year.
Sales at gasoline stations declined 4.4 percent from the previous month and 15.6 percent from a year ago. Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers fell 0.2 percent from January, but improved 6.8 percent from February 2015.
Read the Census release.
