WASHINGTON – Total retail sales in October, excluding automobiles and gas, were down .08% from September and up 2.57% year over year. That compared with increases of 0.23% month over month and 4.93% year over year in September.

The figures come from courtesy of the first edition of the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, a new monthly report powered by Affinity Solutions.

The Retail Monitor calculation of core retail sales — which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants to focus on core retail — shows that retail sales were essentially flat, coming in marginally down .03% seasonally adjusted from September and up 2.63% year over year, unadjusted. In September, sales were up 0.09% month over month and up 4.39% year over year.

October sales were up in five out of nine retail categories on a yearly basis, led by non-store, sporting goods/hobby/music/bookstores, and health and personal care, and up or unchanged in four out of nine categories on a monthly basis. Specifics from key sectors include:

• Online and other non-store sales were up 1.18% month over month seasonally adjusted and up 29.1% year over year unadjusted.
• Sporting goods, hobby, music and bookstores were up 1.45% month over month seasonally adjusted and up 8.88% year over year unadjusted.
• Health and personal care stores were up 0.77% month over month seasonally adjusted and up 5.98% year over year unadjusted.
• Food and beverage stores were up 0.23% month over month and up 2.59% year over year unadjusted.
• General merchandise stores were down 0.57% month over month seasonally adjusted and down 1.57% year over year unadjusted.
• Clothing and accessories stores were down 0.78% month over month and up 2.72% year over year unadjusted.
• Building and garden supply stores were down 0.5% month over month and up 0.89% year over year unadjusted.
• Furniture and home furnishings stores were down 1.29% month over month seasonally adjusted and down 5.24% year over year unadjusted.
• Electronics and appliance stores were down 1.38% month over month seasonally adjusted and down 4.66% year over year unadjusted.

The CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor uses actual, real-time debit and credit card purchase data to provide more accurate and timely insights into retail sales activity across all U.S. sectors, categories and markets, according to the companies, which announced their partnership and the benefits of the new Retail Monitor for the retail industry and the broader economy on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” Click here to watch.

“The CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor will provide comprehensive, granular and timely insights that measure monthly retail sales and gauge the state of the retail industry, the consumer and the broader economy,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “The CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor will modernize how retail sales are tracked and measured, and Affinity Solutions’ vast dataset of how, what and where the consumer is spending will identify how key demographics and channels are performing for the industry generally and for specific retail sectors.”

“CNBC is pleased to join with NRF and Affinity to offer this data. Our audience, investors and executives alike, will now be armed with dynamic insights that go beyond headline numbers to show emerging trends and critical detail,” CNBC Senior Vice President of Business News Dan Colarusso said.

“The Retail Monitor heralds a new era of retail intelligence, where data isn’t just a resource – it’s a roadmap to understanding and engaging with the modern consumer,” Affinity Solutions CEO and founder Jonathan Silver said. “Through Affinity Solutions’ work with NRF and CNBC, we’re equipping businesses with the power to anticipate and adapt to the fast-paced and iterative retail market.”

The Retail Monitor data will be announced approximately one week prior to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Retail Sales figures. CNBC, First in Business Worldwide, will provide in-depth analysis of the monthly retail sales findings across CNBC’s multiple platforms.

The CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor is a product that was jointly developed by CNBC and NRF’s new Center for Retail & Consumer Insights, together with Affinity Solutions. CRCI is NRF’s hub for data-driven insights into the modern retail industry and the consumers who drive it.