Retail sales in September 2013 were $40.7 billion, an increase of 1.0% from August and up 3.6% from September 2012. This was the third consecutive monthly gain. Excluding sales by motor vehicle and parts dealers and by gasoline stations, retail sales were up by 1.8% from September 2012.
Retail sales in volume terms were up 1.0% from August. Increases in month-over-month sales were reported in 6 of 11 sectors representing 55% of total retail sales. Total retail sales for the first nine months of 2013 were $359.3 billion, up 2.2% over the same period last year.
Sales in the building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers sector in September were $2.3 billion, up 0.8% from August and a 4.1% increase from September 2012. This was the third monthly increase in a row. Total retail sales for this sector for the first nine months of 2013 were $20.4 billion, virtually unchanged over the same period last year. Sales have been relatively flat since the middle of 2012.
The motor vehicle and parts dealers sector saw sales increase 4.1% from August and rise by 10.5% from September 2012. Gasoline station sales were up 0.8% from August and increased by 0.5% from September 2012.
Sales at food and beverage stores were down 0.3% from August to September. Lower sales were reported at supermarkets and other grocery stores, which were down 0.6% from a month earlier and which declined 1.0% from September 2012. Monthly sales increases were reported by convenience stores (+1.5%) and by beer, wine and liquor stores (+0.3%).
General merchandise stores sales decreased 0.1% from August but were 2.5% higher
than in September 2012, standing at $5.0 billion. “General merchandise stores” include
department stores, warehouse clubs, superstores and home and auto supplies stores and
account for 12% of total retail sales. Department store sales lost 0.7% from August and
were down 1.6% from September 2012. Food and non-alcoholic beverages account for
approximately 25% of sales at general merchandise stores.
Sales at furniture and home furnishings stores were up 0.5% from August at $1.3 billion and increased 2.8% from September 2012. Sales at electronics and appliance stores dropped 1.1% from August to $1.2 billion. They were down 5.3% from September 2012. Sales at health and personal care stores were up 0.2% from August. They were up 3.2% from September 2012.