WASHINGTON – July retail sales were up 0.4% seasonally adjusted from June and increased 4.9% unadjusted year-over-year, giving the industry a solid kickoff for the third quarter as consumers continued to spend despite concerns about the growing trade war, the National Retail Federation reported today. The numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants. “Today’s numbers
WASHINGTON – Retail sales in January were nearly as strong as during the holiday season, dropping only 0.26% on a seasonally adjusted basis from December, according to the National Retail Federation. And sales rose 5.4% compared to last January. “These numbers reinforce a positive start to 2018 that reflects ongoing consumer optimism brought about by
WASHINGTON – Retail employment turned a corner in June, gaining 7,400 jobs over May, the National Retail Federation said Friday. The association noted that its retail industry job figures exclude jobs at automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants. The overall U.S. economy added 222,000 jobs in June. “The gain in June shows that the industry
WASHINGTON – Retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 0.3% in March from the previous month and were up 3.5% unadjusted from a year earlier, the National Retail Federation (NRF) reported on Friday. The federation’s numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants. “Consumer spending was weak but is expected to pick up as we move through