U.S. Retail Sales in April Grow at Best Pace in More than a Year
13 Maggio 2016 - 3:10PM
Dow Jones News
WASHINGTON—Sales at U.S. retailers and restaurants grew at the
fastest pace in more than a year last month, a sign consumers
stepped up spending after a slow start to 2016.
Retail sales advanced 1.3% in April from the prior month to a
seasonally adjusted $453.44 billion, the Commerce Department said
Friday. It was the best monthly gain since March 2015.
Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had expected
April sales would be increase 0.8% from the prior month.
The sales surge was led by three categories: autos, gasoline
stations and nonstore retailers--a segment that includes online
shopping at sites such as Amazon.
Compared with a year earlier, overall sales grew 3%. That's well
above the annual rate of inflation, which has been running at about
1% this year, as measured by the consumer-price index.
Retail sales for March were revised to a 0.3% decline. Annual
revisions published late last month had revised the figure to a
0.4% decline from the initially reported 0.3% drop.
Sales rose 0.3% in February and fell 0.5% in January.
After ending 2015 on a modest uptick, retail sales flattened
during the first three months of the year. That matched with a
slowdown in overall consumer spending, including services not
captured in the retail report, and a deceleration in economic
growth during the first quarter.
Retailers including Macy's Inc., Kohl's Corp. and Nordstrom Inc.
all reported weaker first-quarter sales this week at stores open
for more than a year.
April's improvement in overall retail spending was at least
partially an expected bounce back from several weaker months. But
the gain also raises optimism that consumers can power better
growth this year. Consumer spending is responsible for about
two-thirds of economic output.
Last month, retail sales excluding motor vehicles, rose 0.8%
from the prior month. That was the best gain since May 2015.
Excluding gasoline, sales were up 1.2%. Excluding both categories,
sales advanced 0.6% last month.
Spending at nonstore retailers increased 2.1% in April, the best
gain since June 2014. The online shopping and catalog category was
up 10.2% from a year earlier, the best annual gain of any segment
tracked by the government.
Purchases of motor vehicles and parts rose 3.2% in March,
consistent with steady gains in recent years.
Friday's report showed that Americans spent 2.2% more last month
at gasoline stations. As is typical in the spring, gasoline prices
rose during April, but remained below year-earlier levels. American
households have benefited from relatively cheaper gasoline and an
improving labor market for more than a year.
Most other retail categories posted more modest gains in April.
Spending at restaurants and bars rose 0.3%. Clothing stores sales
rose 1% in April. Department store spending rose 0.3%, but the
category was down from a year earlier.
Spending at building and garden supply stores fell 1% last
month.
The retail-sales data are adjusted for seasonal variations but
not for price changes. The report doesn't include estimates for
most services, which make up the bulk of consumer spending.
Write to Eric Morath at eric.morath@wsj.com and Ben Leubsdorf at
ben.leubsdorf@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 13, 2016 08:55 ET (12:55 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Grafico Azioni Nordstrom (NYSE:JWN)
Storico
Da Giu 2024 a Lug 2024
Grafico Azioni Nordstrom (NYSE:JWN)
Storico
Da Lug 2023 a Lug 2024