Retail sales stayed flat in July on the back of a sharp drop in gasoline prices and lower automobile sales, the U.S. Census Bureau reported on Wednesday. With inflation remaining largely unchanged in July, retail sales after being adjusted for inflation should also likely be flat on the month. Lower ... READ MORE >
retail sales
U.S. retail sales fall as inflation takes a toll
U.S. retail sales declined in May as surges in energy and food prices forced consumers to reduce their spending on vehicles and other discretionary items. With inflation running hot, sales plunged on an inflation-adjusted basis, paring most of April's gains. That implies more headwinds to consumer ... READ MORE >
U.S. retail sales: A solid month of growth
American consumers continued to spend more at retail stores in April despite inflation as lower gasoline prices helped to boost spending on discretionary items. But it won't last long as gasoline prices reached a record high in May. Retail sales in the United States rose by 0.9% in April from a ... READ MORE >
Retail sales slow in March as inflation takes a toll
March’s retail sales posted weaker growth than forecast as red-hot inflation continued to drag sales volume lower, adding downside risks to our forecast for economic growth that might dip below 1% in the first quarter. The headline sales number increased by 0.5% on the month, according to Commerce ... READ MORE >
U.S. retail sales lag inflation in February amid rising energy prices
Retail sales growth fell behind inflation increases in February, posting a weak 0.3% increase, as growth slowed down in most categories except gasoline stations. Consumer rationing because of rising gasoline prices already took place before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Excluding sales at the gas ... READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Producer prices fall, but not for long
Producer prices for final goods decelerated sharply in February as price gains for services and construction slowed down. Producer prices increased by 0.8% on the month, down from a 1.2% increase in January while registering a 10% rise in back-to-back months compared to a year ago, the Bureau of Labor ... READ MORE >
Retail sales outpace inflation in January despite omicron surge
Inflation and the omicron surge did not deter American consumers from beginning the year on a strong note as retail sales rebounded sharply in January. Purchases at retail stores, restaurants and online rose 3.8%, outstripping inflation for the first time in three months, the Commerce Department ... READ MORE >
U.S. retail sales decline despite a strong holiday season
Price pressures and continued labor shortages magnified by the rapid spread of the omicron variant drove retail sales down by a disappointing 1.9% in December. The decline on the month came despite a strong holiday shopping season, when many consumers heeded warnings about depleted inventories and made ... READ MORE >
Five things that retail sales tell us about holiday shopping
Navigating the strong headwinds from the pandemic has not been easy for retailers this holiday season, but here are five things we have learned about their response as reflected in the November retail sales data released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday. Stockings are already full October and ... READ MORE >
U.S. November retail sales: Consumer spending moderates
The American consumer has held up remarkably well during the recent surge in inflation. But that was not the case in November as the pace of spending moderated to an 0.3% increase, which is likely because of an adjustment to rising prices, according to government data released Wednesday. The October ... READ MORE >