Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Nov 14 2012

U.S. Retail Sales Decline With Fewer Vehicle Purchases

Summary

Total retail sales fell 0.3% last month following an upwardly revised 1.3% September rise, initially reported as 1.1%. A 0.1% downtick in October sales was expected according to Action Economics. Excluding autos, retail sales also [...]


Total retail sales fell 0.3% last month following an upwardly revised 1.3% September rise, initially reported as 1.1%. A 0.1% downtick in October sales was expected according to Action Economics. Excluding autos, retail sales also slipped marginally following an upwardly revised 1.2% September jump. A 0.3% rise was expected.

A sharp 1.9% (+0.7% y/y) drop in building materials sales led last month's weakness after three months of strong increase. Lower sales of motor vehicles followed with a 1.5% (+5.0% y/y) drop. That reversed September's 1.7% rise and accompanied the earlier report of a 4.4% drop in unit sales. Offsetting these declines was a 1.4% (7.7% y/y) gain in sales at gasoline service stations. Less autos and gasoline retail sales fell 0.3% (+2.7% y/y). Sales of home furnishings, appliances and electronics also were weak and posted a 0.8% (-0.5% y/y) decline. Appliance and electronics purchases backpedaled 1.0% (-5.6% y/y) while furniture store sales fell 0.6% (+5.3% y/y). Sales of apparel & accessory stores slipped 0.1% (+5.5% y/y) following gains during the prior five months. Sales of general merchandise ticked 0.2% (0.0% y/y) higher after three months of modest increase. Food & beverages store sales rose 0.8% (3.9% y/y) while sales of nonstore retailers fell 1.8% (+7.2% y/y).

The retail sales figure are available in Haver's USECON database. The Action Economics figures are in the AS1REPNA database. 

 

Retail Spending(%) Oct Sep Aug Oct Y/Y 2011 2010 2009
Total Retail Sales & Food Services -0.3 1.3 1.0 3.8 8.0 5.5 -7.1
  Excluding Autos -0.0 1.2 0.8 3.6 7.4 4.5 -5.7
Retail Sales -0.3 1.3 1.1 3.8 8.3 5.8 -7.9
  Motor Vehicle & Parts -1.5 1.7 1.8 5.0 10.9 10.8 -13.9
 Retail excluding Autos 0.0 1.2 1.0 3.5 7.6 4.7 -6.4
  Gasoline Stations 1.4 2.5 6.0 7.7 17.9 14.7 -22.0
 Non-Auto Less Gasoline -0.3 1.0 0.1 2.7 5.9 3.2 -3.4
Food Service  -0.4 0.8 0.0 4.2 5.9 3.2 -0.9
  • Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio.   Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984.   He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C.   In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists.   Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.

    More in Author Profile »

More Economy in Brief