From the Census Department’s Retail Trade Report:
The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for October, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $444.5 billion, an increase of 0.3 percent (±0.5%)* from the previous month, and 4.1 percent (±0.9%) above October 2013. Total sales for the August through October 2014 period were up 4.5 percent (±0.7%) from the same period a year ago. The August to September 2014 percent change was unrevised from -0.3% (±0.2%).
Retail trade sales were up 0.3 percent (±0.5%)* from September 2014, and 3.8 percent (±0.7%) above last year. Nonstore retailers were up 9.1 percent (±2.1%) from October 2013 and auto and other motor vehicle dealers were up 8.3 percent (±3.0%) from last year.
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Revisions to the prior two month’s reporting included a change of 0.06% for September. See below.
Total sales volume rose by $1,489 billion , with the biggest contributors being:
- Nonstore Retailers sales rose by $762 billion (1.9%).
- Gasoline Stations sales fell by $662 billion (-1.5%).
- Motor Vehicle & Parts Dealers sales rose by $441 billion (0.5%).
- Food Services & Drinking Places sales rose by $436 billion (0.9%).
These are shown graphically in the bar chart below.
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Revisions to Prior Months
Retail Sales for September were revised up by $295 billion , changing that month’s reported decrease of 0.32% to a decrease of 0.26%.
August sales were revised but not significantly, up by $18 billion.