There were $470.8 billion in retail and food service sales in March, down 0.2% from the previous month and up 5.2% from March 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. February’s estimate was revised from up 0.1% to down 0.3%.
Core retail sales – excluding automobiles and parts – were unchanged for the second consecutive month. Year-over-year core sales increased 5.0%.
Retail trade sales declined 0.2% from February and are up 5.5% from last year. Sales at nonstore retailers decreased 0.6% from February, while increasing 11.9% year-over-year.
Sales at gasoline stations declined 1.0% during the month, but are up 14.3% from a year ago.
Read the Census release.
