In Depth Analysis: CalculatedRisk Newsletter on Real Estate (Ad Free) Read it here.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Retail Sales increased 0.1% in April

by Calculated Risk on 5/13/2014 08:30:00 AM

On a monthly basis, retail sales increased 0.1% from March to April (seasonally adjusted), and sales were up 3.8% from April 2013. Sales in March were revised up from a 1.1% increase to a 1.5% increase. From the Census Bureau report:

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for April, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $434.6 billion, an increase of 0.1 percent from the previous month, and 4.0 percent above April 2013.
Retail Sales Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows retail sales since 1992. This is monthly retail sales and food service, seasonally adjusted (total and ex-gasoline).


Retail sales ex-autos were unchanged. 

The second graph shows the year-over-year change in retail sales and food service (ex-gasoline) since 1993.

Year-over-year change in Retail Sales Retail sales ex-gasoline increased by 4.6% on a YoY basis (4.0% for all retail sales).

The increase in April was well below consensus expectations - however sales in March were revised up.