(08-15-18)
The U.S. Census Bureau announced the following advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for July 2018: Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for July 2018, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $507.5 billion, an increase of 0.5 percent (±0.4 percent) from the previous month, and 6.4 percent (±0.5 percent) above July 2017. Total sales for the May 2018 through July 2018 period were up 6.3 percent (±0.5 percent) from the same period a year ago. The May 2018 to June 2018 percent change was revised from up 0.5 percent (±0.4 percent) to up 0.2 percent (±0.2 percent)*. Retail trade sales were up 0.4 percent (±0.5 percent)* from June 2018, and 6.0 percent (±0.5 percent) above last year. Gasoline Stations were up 22.2 percent (±1.6 percent) from July 2017, while Nonstore Retailers were up 8.7 percent (±1.4 percent) from last year.