December 2016 retail sales increased by 0.6% and are up a whopping 4.1% from a year ago. November's retail sales were revised to a 0.2% monthly increase. The reason for December's gain were automobile sales, online sales and gas. Auto sales blew through the roof at a 2.4% monthly increase and gas did also on rising prices. Without autos & parts sales, retail sales would have increased only 0.2% for the month.
July 2016 retail sales were a real Wall Street let down as there was no change from June. Gasoline sales plunged by -2.7%, yet most retailers had declining sales. Auto sales and Amazon prime day were not enough to salvage overall retail sales. Without autos & parts sales, retail sales would have dropped by -0.3% for the month.
April 2016 retail sales really popped up as auto sales roared. Retail sales increased 1.3% for the month and auto dealers sales surged by 3.5%. Without autos & parts sales, retail sales still had a great showing with a monthly 0.8% gain. Gasoline station sales have also shot up as prices rose, a 2.2% increase for the month.
The February 2016 Retail Sales report shows retail sales decreased -0.1% for the month as gasoline sales plunged by -4.4%. Without autos & parts sales, retail sales still decreased by -0.1%. Gasoline sales have dropped -15.6% from a year ago. Declining gasoline sales are once again responsible for the disappointing figures, as without gas stations considered, retail sales increased by a modest 0.2%.
The November 2015 Retail Sales report shows retail sales increased 0.2% for the month as auto sales slid by -0.6% and gasoline sales declined -0.8%. Without autos & parts sales, retail sales increased 0.4%.
The October 2015 Retail Sales report shows retail sales increased 0.1% for the month as auto sales slid by -0.5%. Without autos & parts sales, retail sales increased 0.2%. Gasoline sales declined by -0.9%. Gasoline sales have plunged by 20.1% from a year ago. Declining gasoline sales are not responsible for such weak consumer demand, for without gas stations considered, retail sales only rose by 0.1%.
April Retail Sales has assuredly disappointed Wall Street and is just one report in a series indicating the U.S. economy has gone into standby mode. Retail sales had no growth and even excluding gasoline sales only grew 0.1%. Autos & parts dropped -0.4% for the month. Without autos & parts sales, April retail sales increased 0.1%. Gasoline sales declined by -0.7%.
The March 2015 Retail Sales report shows retail sales increased 0.9% for the month as auto sales had a major comeback increase of 2.8%. Without autos & parts sales, March retail sales increased 0.4%. Gasoline sales declined by -0.6%. Building materials had a good month with a 2.1% sales increase. Retail sales have now increased 1.3% from a year ago.
The December 2014 Retail Sales report shows retail sales declined -0.9% for the month. As gasoline prices plunged, sales as gas stations dropped a whopping -6.5%. Holiday sales on the other hand, were up 4.0%. Retail sales have now increased 3.2% from a year ago. December retail sales was not just about gas prices as most categories had monthly declines.
The November 2014 Retail Sales report shows retail sales increased 0.7% for the month. This is when gasoline prices have plunged, pulling down retail gas sales. October retail sales were revised upward by 0.2 percentage points to a 0.5% increase. Retail sales have now increased 5.1% from a year ago. November's increase was due to auto sales, although other retail sales categories increased.
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