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NRF: Retail sales resilient in April
Retail industry sales for April, excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, increased 2.3 percent unadjusted over last year and 0.6 percent seasonally adjusted from March, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).
April retail sales released today by the U.S. Commerce Department show total retail sales (including non-general-merchandise categories such as automobiles, gas stations and restaurants) increased 2.6 percent unadjusted over last year and decreased 0.2 percent seasonally adjusted from March.
"While it's apparent that consumers are still holding back, the spring season helped get people back into stores," NRF Chief Economist Rosalind Wells said in a media release issued this morning. "The month-to-month sales increase was the largest we've seen since last November, a much welcomed reprieve."
Health and beauty care stores experienced the largest growth, with sales increasing 3.1 percent unadjusted year-over-year and 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted from March.
Springlike weather in much of the country helped building material, garden equipment and supply stores see sales increases for the first time in months. Sales increased 1.2 percent unadjusted over last year and 1.9 percent seasonally adjusted from March.
Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores also saw healthy sales increases. Sales increased 4.7 percent unadjusted year-over-year and 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted from March.
Meanwhile, sales at electronics and appliance stores increased 5.1 percent unadjusted over last year and 1.4 percent seasonally adjusted from March. Sales at clothing and clothing accessories stores increased 0.5 percent unadjusted over last year and 0.7 percent seasonally adjusted from March.
The NRF is the largest retail trade association in the world, with members including department, discount, drug, grocery, independent and specialty stores, catalog merchants, chain restaurants and e-tailers, as well as the industry's key trading partners of retail goods and services.
For more information about the NRF, visit its Web site, NRF.com.
April retail sales released today by the U.S. Commerce Department show total retail sales (including non-general-merchandise categories such as automobiles, gas stations and restaurants) increased 2.6 percent unadjusted over last year and decreased 0.2 percent seasonally adjusted from March.
"While it's apparent that consumers are still holding back, the spring season helped get people back into stores," NRF Chief Economist Rosalind Wells said in a media release issued this morning. "The month-to-month sales increase was the largest we've seen since last November, a much welcomed reprieve."
Health and beauty care stores experienced the largest growth, with sales increasing 3.1 percent unadjusted year-over-year and 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted from March.
Springlike weather in much of the country helped building material, garden equipment and supply stores see sales increases for the first time in months. Sales increased 1.2 percent unadjusted over last year and 1.9 percent seasonally adjusted from March.
Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores also saw healthy sales increases. Sales increased 4.7 percent unadjusted year-over-year and 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted from March.
Meanwhile, sales at electronics and appliance stores increased 5.1 percent unadjusted over last year and 1.4 percent seasonally adjusted from March. Sales at clothing and clothing accessories stores increased 0.5 percent unadjusted over last year and 0.7 percent seasonally adjusted from March.
The NRF is the largest retail trade association in the world, with members including department, discount, drug, grocery, independent and specialty stores, catalog merchants, chain restaurants and e-tailers, as well as the industry's key trading partners of retail goods and services.
For more information about the NRF, visit its Web site, NRF.com.
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