There was $505.8 billion in retail and food service sales in December, down 1.2 percent from the previous month but up 2.1 percent from December 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Core retail sales – excluding automobiles and parts – declined 1.8 percent. Year-over-year core sales increased 2.0 percent.
Retail trade sales declined 1.3 percent from November but are up 2.3 percent from one year prior. Sales at non-store retailers declined 3.9 percent. Non-store retailer sales are up 3.7 percent year-over-year as online retailers continue to grow their market share.
Sales at gasoline stations decreased 5.1 percent during December after declining in November. Gasoline station sales are down 0.2 percent since December 2017.
Read the Census release.
