WASHINGTON – Consumers continued to spend in March despite price hikes driven by a four-decade high in inflation, according to economic data released today. March retail sales were up 0.5%, the Commerce Department reported. It was the third consecutive month in which retail sales increased in the face of rising prices, notably an 8.9% spike
WASHINGTON – The omicron variant, inflation and bad weather in much of the country were not enough to stop consumers from shopping in January, the National Retail Federation reported on Wednesday. Retail sales posted strong gains in January despite those and other challenges. “January’s numbers show that 2022 is starting very strong for consumers and
PURCHASE, N.Y. — Retail sales in the U.S. grew for the 11th consecutive month in July, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse, a survey that measures in-store and online retail sales across all forms of payment. Sales for the month increased 10.9% compared to July 2020. That figure, which excludes automotive sales and gasoline, is nearly quadruple
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health posted second-quarter sales and earnings that easily topped analysts’ projections. Strong retail sales helped lift the company’s adjusted profit to $2.42 a share, well ahead of Wall Street’s prediction of $2.07 a share. Revenue climbed 11.1% to $72.62 billion, beating the forecast of $70.24 billion. The company boosted its fiscal
WASHINGTON — Retail sales grew in June after dipping month to month in May, in a sign that the industry is benefiting from an improving economy. Retail sales rose 0.6% in June, according to the U.S. Commerce Department, which also revised data for May to show sales falling 1.7% instead of declining 1.3% as previously
WASHINGTON – Retail sales in May were down compared to April but up strongly year-over-year, the National Retail Federation said Tuesday. “While May retail sales were down slightly, largely due to supply chain constraints, the more accurate indicator remains in the year-over-year data which, as the NRF calculates, showed growth of over 17%,” NRF president
WASHINGTON – Retail sales rebounded with huge gains in March as government checks fattened consumers’ bank accounts and more vaccination against COVID-19 made it easier for shoppers to get out of the house and lead the acceleration of the U.S. economy, the National Retail Federation said Thursday. “The dramatic increase of 17.7% in March retail
PURCHASE, N.Y. — U.S. retail sales grew by double-digits in March as the nation marked the one-year anniversary of the first lockdowns imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, which measures in-store and online retail sales across all forms of payment, U.S. retail sales excluding automotive and gasoline increased 26.3% year-over-year
WASHINGTON — National Retail Federation chief economist Jack Kleinhenz said this could be a year of record sales growth for the nation’s retailers, assuming that America is able to put COVID-19 in its rear view mirror. “There is no doubt the economy is positioned for growth in 2021, but how much growth comes down to
PURCHASE, N.Y. — Retail sales grew 3% this holiday season, according to preliminary data from Mastercard SpendingPulse, which attributes the size of the increase to an expanded holiday season and strong online sales. Year-over-year sales growth was up 2.4% for the traditional holiday shopping period of November 1 through December 24, according to the study,
WASHINGTON – Retail sales slipped in November compared to the month before, as the surging pandemic suppressed store traffic. But sales were still up compared to last November, and the National Retail Federation still expects a happy holiday season for retailers. “Consumers held back on spending in November as virus rates spiked, states imposed retail restrictions and
WASHINGTON – Retail sales grew for the sixth month in a row in October, the National Retail Federation said Tuesday. Besides increasing compared to September, October sales were also up compared to October of last year. “We are encouraged by another positive retail sales number for October — the sixth consecutive positive monthly gain —