December Retail Sales Tick Down 0.1% from Previous Month, Rise YOY

Washington, DC, January 15, 2016—Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for December were $448.1 billion, a decrease of 0.1% from the previous month, and 2.2% above December 2014, the U.S. Census Bureau announced.

Total sales for the 12 months of 2015 were up 2.1% from 2014. Total sales for the October 2015 through December 2015 period were up 1.8% from the same period a year ago. The October 2015 to November 2015 percent change was revised from up 0.2% to up 0.4%.

Retail trade sales were down 0.2% from November 2015, but up 1.6% from last year. Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores were up 7.6% from December 2014 and nonstore retailers were up 7.1% from last year.