Retail sales see June gains, reports Commerce and NRF

June retail sales data issued today by the United States Department of Commerce and the National Retail Federation (NRF) showed sequential and annual gains, to varying levels.

Commerce reported that June retail sales, at $519.9 billion, were up 0.4% compared to May and up 3.4% compared to June 2018, with total retail sales from April through June up 3.4% annually.

Retail trade sales were up 0.4% compared to May and up 3.3% annually, with nonstore retailers, which is largely comprised of e-commerce activity, seeing a 13.4% annual jump and health and personal care stores up 5.5% annually.

NRF reported that June retail sales were up 0.6% in June on a seasonally-adjusted basis compared to May, and up 2.3% annually on an unadjusted basis. NRF's retail sales figures do not include automotive dealers, gasoline stations, and restaurants.

The three-month moving average through June was up 3.7% annually, ahead of May's 3.3% three-month moving average.

“These are impressive results showing that the consumer remains engaged and that consumer spending gave a boost to the economy in the second quarter,” NRF Chief Economic Jack Kleinhenz said. “The numbers are consistent with elevated consumer sentiment, healthy household balance sheets, low inflation and wage and job gains. The year-over-year growth is particularly significant given that it comes on top of strong gains at this time last year. While the prospect of tariff increases has subsided for the moment, trade uncertainties continue to weigh on the long-term outlook.”

Specifics from key retail sectors during June cited by the NRF included:
• Online and other non-store sales were up 11.6% year-over-year and up 1.7% month-over-month seasonally adjusted;
• Health and personal care stores were up 3.4% year-over-year and up 0.5% month-over-month seasonally adjusted;
• General merchandise stores were up 2.3% year-over-year and up 0.2% month-over-month seasonally adjusted;
• Grocery and beverage stores were up 2.1% year-over-year and up 0.5% month-over-month seasonally adjusted;
• Clothing and clothing accessory stores were down 1.6% year-over-year but up 0.5% month-over-month seasonally adjusted;
• Furniture and home furnishings stores were down 1.7% year-over-year but up 0.5% month-over-month seasonally adjusted; and
• Building materials and garden supply stores were down 4.7% year-over-year but up 0.5% month-over-month seasonally adjusted
• Sporting goods stores were down 5.3 percent year-over-year and unchanged month-over-month seasonally adjusted.
• Electronics and appliance stores were down 5.8 percent year-over-year and down 0.3 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted

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