December Retail Sales Up 5.8% YOY

Washington, DC, January 16, 2020-Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for December 2019 were $529.6 billion, an increase of 0.3% from the previous month, and 5.8% above December 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

This is despite the fact that there was shorter shopping season between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Total sales for the 12 months of 2019 were up 3.6% from 2018. Total sales for the October 2019 through December 2019 period were up 4.1% from the same period a year ago. The October 2019 to November 2019 percent change was revised from up 0.2% to up 0.3%.

Retail trade sales were up 0.4% from November 2019, and 6.0% above last year. Nonstore retailers were up 19.2% from December 2018, and gasoline stations were up 11.3% from last year.