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WASHINGTON — According to the National Retail Federation, retail sales (excluding automobile dealerships, gas stations and restaurants) achieved an unadjusted 4.8% year-over-year increase last month but declined sequentially on an adjusted basis by 0.3% from April.
According to the National Retail Federation, retail sales (excluding automobile dealerships, gas stations and restaurants) achieved an unadjusted 4.8% year-over-year increase last month but declined sequentially on an adjusted basis by 0.3% from April.
Figures released today by the Department of Commerce showed total retail and food service sales (including car dealerships, gas stations and restaurants) slipped 0.2% on a seasonally adjusted month-to-month basis, but surged 7.1% unadjusted compared with May 2011.
Areas that saw sequential increases included apparel and accessories; electronics and appliances; and furniture and home furnishings. Sales at health and personal care stores, on the other hand, inched downward 0.1% since April but were up 3.1% year over year. Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores also saw results slip 0.1% month to month, but they climbed 9.1% over May 2011 results.
