There were $507.5 billion in retail and food service sales in July, up 0.5 percent from the previous month and 6.4 percent from July 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. June’s number was downwardly revised to reflect a 0.2 percent increase.
Core retail sales – excluding automobiles and parts – rose 0.6 percent. Year-over-year core sales increased 7.2 percent.
Retail trade sales increased 0.4 percent from June and 6.0 percent from last year. Sales at nonstore retailers grew 0.8 percent following June’s 0.7 percent increase. Nonstore retailer sales are up 8.7 percent year-over-year as online retailers continue to grow their market share.
Sales at gasoline stations rose 0.8 percent during July after growing 0.3 percent in June. Gasoline station sales are up 22.2 percent since July 2017.
Read the Census release.
