MARCH RETAIL SALES INCREASED 5 PERCENT OVER LAST YEAR

 

ECONOMY

April 16, 20

By J. Craig Shearman

"This is a healthy spending report despite market volatility, unseasonable weather and uncertain economic policies."

NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz

WASHINGTON – March retail sales increased 0.3 percent seasonally adjusted over February and 5 percent year-over-year as the economy continued to grow, the National Retail Federation said today. The numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants.

“This is a healthy spending report despite market volatility, unseasonable weather and uncertain economic policies,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said. “Consumers continue to show resiliency in spending, and these numbers reflect how the economy is performing with a strong job market, gains in wages, improvements in confidence, rising home value and judicious use of credit. The biggest risk to spending is in market fluctuations that could affect confidence, but we expect these basic improvements in economic fundamentals to continue.”

The three-month moving average was up 4.8 percent over the same period a year ago, and the results come as NRF is forecasting that 2018 retail sales will grow between 3.8 percent and 4.4 percent over 2017.

The March results build on improvement seen in February, which was up 0.2 percent over January and 4.3 percent year over year.

NRF’s numbers are based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, which said overall March sales – including automobiles, gasoline and restaurants – were up 0.6 percent seasonally adjusted from February and up 4.5 percent year-over-year.

Specifics from key retail sectors during March include:

·       Online and other non-store sales were up 7.6 percent year-over-year and up 0.8 percent over February seasonally adjusted.

·       General merchandise stores were up 6.3 percent year-over-year and up 0.3 percent from February seasonally adjusted.

·       Clothing and clothing accessory stores were up 6.1 percent year-over-year but down 0.8 percent from February seasonally adjusted.

·       Grocery and beverage stores were up 5.9 percent year-over-year and up 0.2 percent from February.

·       Furniture and home furnishings stores were up 4.1 percent year-over-year and up 0.7 percent from February seasonally adjusted.

·       Building materials and garden supply stores were up 3.8 percent year-over-year but down 0.6 percent from February seasonally adjusted.

·       Electronics and appliance stores were up 1.6 percent year-over-year and up 0.5 percent from February seasonally adjusted.

·       Health and personal care stores were up 0.4 percent year-over-year and up 1.4 percent from February seasonally adjusted.

·       Sporting goods stores were down 0.9 percent year-over-year and down 1.8 percent from February seasonally adjusted.

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NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy.