U.S. Retail Sales1992-2021 Data | 2022-2023 Forecast | Calendar | Historical

US retail trade rose 0.6 percent from a month earlier in June 2021, following a revised 1.7 percent decline in May and easily beating market expectations of a 0.4 percent decline, as demand for goods remained strong despite the recent shift towards spending to services. Sales rose at electronics & appliance stores, gasoline stations, clothing & clothing accessories stores, general merchandise stores, miscellaneous store retailers, and restaurants and bars. Sales of motor vehicles, however, dropped 2.0 percent, as a global semiconductor supply squeeze hit production. Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales increased 1.1 percent last month after a 1.4 percent decrease in May.

Retail sales in the US shrank 1.3% month-over-month in May of 2021, reversing from a 0.9% rise in April and much worse than market forecast of a 0.8% drop as Americans shifted spending to services as the economy reopens and travel picks up and as fiscal support faded after a cash injection in March. It is the first decline in 3 months, with sales at building materials and garden equipment (-5.9%), autos (-3.9%), and electronics stores (-3.4%) recording the biggest decreases. Other declines were also seen at miscellaneous store retailers (-5%), general merchandise stores (-3.3%), furniture (-2.1%) and sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (-0.8%). In contrast, increases were seen at clothing (3%), health and personal care stores (1.8%), food services and drinking places (1.8%), food and beverages stores (1%) and gasoline stations (0.7%).

Retail sales in the US unexpectedly stalled in April of 2021, disappointing markets that expected a 1% increase. It follows an upwardly revised 10.7% surge in March when the first round of stimulus checks was sent to most households. Falls in sales at clothing stores (-5.1%), general merchandise stores (-4.9%), sporting goods, hobby, musical instruments and books (-3.6%), gasoline stations (-1.1%) and nonstore retailers (-0.6%), offset rises at motor vehicles and part dealers (2.9%), food services and drinking places (3%) and electronics (1.2%). The so-called core retail sales, which exclude automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services and which correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of GDP, dropped 1.5%. Still, retail sales are likely to rebound in coming months amid record saving and as the economy continues to recover and state and local governments further ease restrictions on businesses.

Retail sales in the US jumped 9.8% mom in March of 2021, following a downwardly revised 2.7% fall in the previous month and easily beating market forecasts of a 5.9% gain. It is the biggest increase since May of 2020, as more businesses reopened, the $1,400 checks were sent starting in mid-March and the weather improved after unusually cold temperatures and winter storms in Texas and some other parts of the South region in February. Double-digit increases were seen for sporting goods (23.5%), clothing (18.3%), motor vehicles (15.1%), food services and drinking places (13.4%), building materials (12.1%), gasoline stations (10.9%), electronics and appliances (10.5%). Gains were also recorded for miscellaneous store retailers (9%), general merchandise stores (9%), nonstore retailers (6%), furniture (5.9%), health and personal care (5.7%) and food and beverages (0.7%).