The July personal income and outlays report shows a 0.3% increase in consumer spending. When adjusted for inflation, consumer spending rose 0.2%. Personal income increased 0.4% while real disposable income also increased 0.4% for the month. This is moderate growth. Wages also seem to be finally picking up.
Other than the employment report and the GDP report itself, the monthly report on Personal Income and Outlays from theBureau of Economic Analysis is the most important economic release we see monthly, as it gives us the monthly data on our personal consumption expenditures (PCE), which accounts for more than 2/3rds of GDP, our personal income and disposable personal income data, our savings and savings rate,
The May personal income and outlays report shows a massive increase of 0.9% in consumer spending, which is great news for economic growth. Adjusted for inflation consumer spending rose 0.6%. Personal income also increased 0.5% Real disposable income increased 0.2% for the month.
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 February personal income and outlays report shows a -0.1% change in real consumer spending, which is not good news for economic growth. Not adjusted for inflation consumer spending rose a scant 0.1%. Real personal income isn't any better with no change for the month.
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.
September 2014 Retail Sales decreased -0.3% for the month. August was revised to a 0.6% increase. Retail sales have now increased 4.3% from a year ago. September's decline was due to autos and gas, yet many sales categories were down for the month. Even Online retailers declined while Electronics and Appliance stores had an unusual 3.4% monthly increase.
February 2014 Retail Sales increased 0.3% for the month. This is the first increase in three months. January was revised all the way down to -0.6% and December's drop was -0.3%. Retail sales have now increased just 1.5% from a year ago. January's decline was due to a real nose dive in auto sales, down -2.3% for the month. Online retailers continue their rise with a 6.3% increase from a year ago.
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