by calculated risk May 15, 2024 08:41:00 AM
On a monthly basis, retail sales were “nearly flat” from March to April (seasonally adjusted), with a 3.0% increase compared to April 2023.
From the Census Bureau report:
Our preliminary estimate for April 2024 U.S. retail and food service sales was $705.2 billion, adjusting for seasonal variations and differences between holidays and business days, and excluding price changes. Almost unchanged from last month, but increased by 3.0 percent compared to April 2023. … The percentage change from February 2024 to March 2024 has been revised from an increase of 0.7 percent to an increase of 0.6 percent (±0.1 percent).
Emphasis added
Click on the graph to see a larger image.
This graph shows retail sales since 1992. This is seasonally adjusted monthly retail sales and food services (totals and excluding gasoline).
Retail sales excluding gasoline fell 0.2% in April.
The second graph shows the year-over-year change in retail sales and food services (excluding gasoline) since 1993.
Retail and food service sales excluding gasoline increased 3.0% year over year.
The change in sales in April was lower than expected, and sales for February and March were revised downward.
