There were $723.9 billion in retail and food service sales, a decrease of 0.9% from the previous month, but up 4.2% from January 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes.
Core retail sales—excluding automobiles and gasoline—fell 0.5% this month but increased 3.9% from January 2024. Retail trade sales fell 1.2% from December 2024, but up 4.0% above last year.
Nonstore retailers were down 1.9% from last month but is up 4.7% from last year. Food services and drinking places were up 0.9% from last month and up 5.4% from January 2024. Sales at building material & garden equipment & supplies dealers were down 1.3% from December 2024 but up 0.7% from last year.
Motor vehicle & parts dealers and sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & bookstores fell 2.8% and 4.6% respectively from last month.
Furniture & home furnishing stores were up 3.7% from year-ago levels and clothing & clothing accessories stores were up 1.4% in the same period. Year-over-year sales were also up for miscellaneous store retailers (5.8%), nonstore retailers (4.7%).
Sales at gasoline stations rose 0.9% from December, and up 2.0% from January 2024.
Read the Census release.
