There were $509.0 billion in retail and food service sales in August, up 0.1 percent from the previous month and 6.6 percent from August 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. July’s number was upwardly revised to reflect a 0.7 percent increase.
Core retail sales – excluding automobiles and parts – rose 0.3 percent. Year-over-year core sales increased 7.3 percent.
Retail trade sales increased 0.1 percent from July and 6.2 percent from last year. Sales at nonstore retailers grew 0.7 percent following July’s 1.5 percent increase. Nonstore retailer sales are up 10.4 percent year-over-year as online retailers continue to grow their market share.
Sales at gasoline stations rose 1.7 percent during August after growing 0.8 percent in July. Gasoline station sales are up 20.3 percent since August 2017.
Read the Census release.
