Retail Sales Rise 0.3%; Core Sales Up 0.9%

In February, retail sales rose 0.3%, following a rise of 0.1% in January. Sales growth in January were broad based with every major retail subcategory posting sales gains with the exception of auto and parts dealers. Retail sales not including the volatile autos and gasoline components rose 0.9% over the month, the strongest since November. From a year prior, sales were up 3.5%. This is a slower pace than December’s year-over-year gain of 4.3%; however, this is still a strong improvement from the negative annual rate see as recently as last October. Core sales, followed a similar patter, rising 1.5% from a year prior, down from a 2.9% gain in January.

Mo./ Mo. % Change	Feb	Jan	Dec	Nov	Oct	Sep
Total Sales	0.3	0.1	-0.2	2.0	1.2	-2.0
Ex Autos and Gas	0.9	0.5	-0.2	1.1	0.1	0.6
Year/ Year % Change
Total Sales	3.5	4.3	5.5	2.7	-2.0	-6.1
Ex Autos and Gas	1.5	1.9	2.3	0.9	-0.9	-1.7

10.03.12 (Source: Census Bureau)

Retail Sales Rise 0.5 Percent; Core Sales Up 0.6 Percent

In January, retail sales rose 0.5 percent, following a decline of 0.1 percent in December. Prior months retail sales had been volatile as large gains had been driven by auto sales associated with the cash for clunkers program followed by the falloff after the program and then the eventual leveling off.

Sales growth in January was generally broad based. Retail sales not including the volatile autos and gasoline components rose 0.6 percent over the month. From a year prior, sales were up 4.7 percent. This is a slower pace than December’s year-over-year gain of 5.5 percent; however, this is still a strong improvement from the negative annual rate see as recently as last October. Core sales, followed a similar patter, rising 2.0 percent from a year prior, down from a 2.3 percent gain in December.

Mo./ Mo. % Change	Jan	Dec	Nov	Oct	Sep	Aug
Total Sales	0.5	-0.1	2.0	1.2	-2.0	2.4
Ex Autos and Gas	0.6	-0.3	1.1	0.1	0.6	0.4
Year/ Year % Change
Total Sales	4.7	5.5	2.7	-2.0	-6.1	-5.5
Ex Autos and Gas	2.0	2.3	0.9	-0.9	-1.7	-3.2

10.02.12 (Source: Census Bureau)