(10-15-18)
The U.S. Census Bureau announced the following advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for September 2018: Advance Estimates of U.S. Retail and Food Services – Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for September 2018, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $509.0 billion, an increase of 0.1 percent (±0.5 percent)* from the previous month, and 4.7 percent (±0.5 percent) above September 2017.
Total sales for the July 2018 through September 2018 period were up 5.9 percent (±0.5 percent) from the same period a year ago. The July 2018 to August 2018 percent change was unrevised from up 0.1 percent (±0.1 percent)*. Retail trade sales were up 0.4 percent (±0.5 percent)* from August 2018, and 4.4 percent (±0.5 percent) above last year. Gasoline Stations were up 11.4 percent (±1.6 percent) from September 2017, while Nonstore Retailers were also up 11.4 percent (±1.4 percent) from last year.