(08-14-20)
The U.S. Census Bureau announced the following advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for July 2020: Advance Estimates of U.S. Retail and Food Services Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for July 2020, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $536.0 billion, an increase of 1.2 percent (± 0.5 percent) from the previous month, and 2.7 percent (± 0.7 percent) above July 2019. Total sales for the May 2020 through July 2020 period were down 0.2 percent (± 0.5 percent)* from the same period a year ago. The May 2020 to June 2020 percent change was revised from up 7.5 percent (± 0.5 percent) to up 8.4 percent (± 0.2 percent). Retail trade sales were up 0.8 percent (± 0.5 percent) from June 2020, and 5.8 percent (± 0.7 percent) above last year. Nonstore retailers were up 24.7 percent (± 1.4 percent) from July 2019, while food and beverage stores were up 11.1 percent (± 0.9 percent) from last year.