The Retail Monitor calculation of core retail sales (excluding restaurants in addition to automobile dealers and gasoline stations) was down 1.27% month over month in January but up 5.72% year over year. That compared with increases of 2.19% month over month and 8.41% year over year in December.
January sales were up in seven out of nine categories on a yearly basis, led by online sales, health and personal care stores, and clothing and accessories stores. Sales were up in three categories on a monthly basis.
Your first look at how retail sales performed last month. The Retail Monitor has been shown to be highly correlated with the U.S. Census Bureau’s revised retail sales numbers. The data is powered by Affinity Solutions.