The Retail Monitor calculation of core retail sales (excluding restaurants in addition to automobiles and gasoline) was up 0.17% month over month in August and up 1.93% year over year. That compared with increases of 0.95% month over month and 1.69% year over year in July.
The CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, powered by Affinity Solutions, offers a headline, month-over-month look at retail sales performance for 9 core retail sectors, plus restaurants.
August sales were up in five out of nine retail categories on a yearly basis, led by online sales, clothing and accessories stores and health and personal care stores. Sales were also up in five categories on a monthly basis.
NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay joins ‘Squawk Box’ to discuss the latest retail data from the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor. Watch the full clip here.