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November 17, 2020US RETAIL SALES, OCTOBER 2020 The US Census Bureau announced today the advance estimates of seasonally-adjusted U.S retail and food service sales for October 2020. Retail sales and food services increased 0.3% ($1.4 billion) over September 2020 to $553.3 billion. Retail sales alone increased by 0.3% to $497.7 billion while food service and drinking place receipts decreased 0.1% to $55.6 billion.
Year-over year, retail trade and food services increased 5.7% over October 2019. Retail trade increased 8.5% and food services and drinking places sales decreased 14.2% compared to the same month a year ago.
Compared to February 2020, retail trade and food service sales were up 4.9% in October. Retail trade was 7.7% higher in October versus February, while food services and drinking places sales were down 14.9%.
SECTOR ANALYSIS
Year-to-date (January-October 2020 vs January-October 2019)
Retail sales and food service receipts were down 0.1%. Excluding food services and drinking places, retail trade sales were up 2.5% ($115.4 billion). Food service and drinking places receipts were down 19.3% (-$122.6 billion).
In percentage terms, sales were up in 6 of 13 retail categories, the fastest gains being reported in Non-store Retailers (+21.6%). The largest declines (in percentage terms) were seen in Clothing Stores (-28.4%).
- Motor vehicle dealers decreased 0.4% ($3.6 billion).
- Furniture stores decreased 7.6% ($7.5 billion).
- Electronics stores decreased 15.3% ($12.4 billion).
- Building materials stores increased 12.4% ($39.7 billion).
- Food and beverage stores increased 11.5% ($73.2 billion).
- Heath and personal care stores increased 0.7% ($2.0 billion).
- Gasoline Stations decreased 15.8% ($65.9 billion).
- Clothing stores decreased 28.4% ($63.1 billion).
- Sports and hobby stores increased 2.0% ($1.3 billion).
- General merchandise stores increased 2.1% ($12.3 billion).
- Miscellaneous retail decreased 2.3% ($2.6 billion).
- Non-store retailers increased 21.6% ($142.1 billion).
Source: US Census Bureau, Data Tables
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