Retail Sales Rose 0.6% in December

Washington, DC, January 13, 2017—Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for December 2016 were $469.1 billion, an increase of 0.6% from the previous month, and 4.1% above December 2015, according to the Census Bureau.

Total sales for the 12 months of 2016 were up 3.3% from 2015.

Total sales for the October 2016 through December 2016 period were up 4.1% from the same period a year ago.

The October 2016 to November 2016 percent change was revised from up 0.1% to up 0.2%.

Retail trade sales were up 0.8% from November 2016, and up 4.3% from last year. Nonstore retailers were up 13.2% from December 2015, while Miscellaneous stores were up 7.1% from last year.