March Retail Sales Up 9.8% from February, Up 27.7% YOY

Washington, DC, April 15, 2021-Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for March 2021 were $619.1 billion, an increase of 9.8% from the previous month and 27.7% above March 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Total sales for the January 2021 through March 2021 period were up 14.3% from the same period a year ago. The January 2021 to February 2021 percent change was revised from down 3.0% to down 2.7%.

Retail trade sales were up 9.4% from February 2021 and up 26.9% above last year. Motor vehicle and parts dealers were up 71.1% from March 2020, while food services and drinking places were up 36.0% from last year.

According to the Wall Street Journal, "U.S. shoppers boosted retail spending by nearly 10% in March as federal-stimulus funds made their way to households, warmer weather set in and the economy reopened more fully from pandemic-related restrictions."