• After three consecutive monthly declines, retail spending rebounded strongly in January.

• Rebound aided by another round of stimulus checks from the federal government.

• The January surge in spending was widespread across categories.

Total retail sales including food service and drinking establishments jumped up 5.3% m/m (+7.4% y/y) after having declined in each of the previous three months. January sales were likely boosted meaningfully by a second round of stimulus checks from the federal government that were sent out in early January. The 0.7% m/.m decline initially reported for December was revised down to a 1.0% m/m drop. The Action Economics Forecast Survey had expected a 0.9% monthly gain. Retail sales excluding motor vehicles and parts were even stronger, up 5.9% m/m (+6.1% y/y) after having also declined in each of the three previous months. These sales had been expected to rise only 0.9% m/m.

The retail control group, the component of retail sales used to construct the monthly consumption figures in the national accounts and excludes autos, gas stations, building materials and food services, soared 6.0% m/m (+11.8% y/y), auguring a strong gain in monthly consumption in January to be released on February 26. Consumer spending slowed sharply in Q4. So, the January rebound in retail sales likely means that consumption in the national accounts got off to a great start for the first quarter.

Sales of motor vehicles increased a more modest 3.1% m/m in January (+13.0% y/y). Sales at furniture and home furnishing stores surged 12.0% m/m and sales at electric appliance stores soared 14.7% m/m. Sales of building materials and garden supplies rose 4.6% m/m. Gasoline sales increased 4.0% m/m. Department store sales exploded 23.5% m/m in January after having declined in four of the previous five months. Even though consumers appeared to have returned to bricks and mortar stores in January, sales by nonstore retailers were also very strong, rising 11.0% m/m.

Sales at restaurants and drinking establishments rebounded 6.9% m/m (-16.6% y/y) in January after increased social distancing and new restrictions on in-restaurant dining had led to sharp declines in November (-3.6% m/m) and December (-4.6% m/m). The accelerating pace of vaccinations could initiate a more sustained revival in eating out going forward.

The retail sales data can be found in Haver's USECON database. The Action Economics forecast is in the AS1REPNA database.