Advance Monthly Sales For Retail And Food Services July 2012

The U.S. Census Bureau announced that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for July, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $403.9 billion, an increase of 0.8 percent (±0.5%) from the previous month and 4.1 percent (±0.7%) above July 2011.  Total sales for the May through July 2012 period were up 4.3 percent (±0.5%) from the same period a year ago.  The May to June 2012 percent change was revised from -0.5 percent (±0.5%) to -0.7% (±0.2%).

Retail trade sales were up 0.8 percent (±0.5%) from June 2012 and 3.7 percent (±0.7%) above last year.  Nonstore retailers sales were up 11.8 percent (±3.1%) from July 2011 and sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores were up 10.6 percent (±4.3%) from last year.

Source:  census.gov