(04-18-19)
The U.S. Census Bureau announced the following advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for March 2019: Advance Estimates of U.S. Retail and Food Services Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for March 2019, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $514.1 billion, an increase of 1.6 percent (±0.5 percent) from the previous month, and 3.6 percent (±0.7 percent) above March 2018.
Total sales for the January 2019 through March 2019 period were up 2.9 percent (±0.7 percent) from the same period a year ago. The January 2019 to February 2019 percent change was unrevised from down 0.2 percent (±0.2 percent)*. Retail trade sales were up 1.7 percent (±0.5 percent) from February 2019, and 3.5 percent (±0.5 percent) above last year. Nonstore retailers were up 11.6 percent (±1.4 percent) from March 2018, while sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, and book stores were down 9.7 percent (±2.5 percent) from last year.