December Retail Sales Up 2.9% YOY, Down 0.7% from November

Washington, DC, January 15, 2021-Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for December 2020 were $540.9 billion, a decrease of 0.7% from the previous month, but 2.9% above December 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Total sales for the 12 months of 2020 were up 0.6% from 2019. Total sales for the October 2020 through December 2020 period were up 4.0% from the same period a year ago. The October 2020 to November 2020 percent change was revised from down 1.1% to down 1.4%.

Retail trade sales were down 0.3% from November 2020, but 6.3% above last year. Nonstore retailers were up 19.2% from December 2019, while food services and drinking places were down 21.2% from last year.