There were $710.8 billion in retail and food service sales, an increase of 0.1% from the previous month, and up 2.1% from August 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Core retail sales—excluding automobiles and gasoline—rose 0.2% this month and increased 3.3% for the year.
Retail trade sales were up 0.1% from July 2024, and up 2.0% above last year.
Sales at building material & garden equipment & supplies dealers and nonstore retailers were up 0.1% and 0.9% from the previous month, respectively. Motor vehicle & parts dealers were down 0.1% while sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores were up 0.3% in August. Furniture & home furnishing stores were down 0.7% from year-ago levels while clothing & clothing accessories stores were up 1.0% in the same period. Year-over-year sales were also up for miscellaneous store retailers (10.7%), nonstore retailers (7.8%), and food services & drinking places (2.7%).
Sales at gasoline stations were down 1.7% from July, and down 6.8% compared to prior year levels.
Read the Census release.
