Category: retail sales

April Retail Spending Stalls after Stimulus-Fueled March Shopping Spree

Retail spending in the United States stalled in April, coming in at a below-expectations zero percent after surging over 10 percent in March, when a round of stimulus checks hit bank accounts and Americans went on a shopping spree. The U.S. Census Bureau said in a Friday release (pdf) that U.S. retail spending remained flat…


Economic Data Shows Fewer Workers Losing Jobs and Americans Eager to Spend

A suite of stronger-than-expected economic data on jobs, retail sales, and corporate earnings came out Thursday, reinforcing the view that a potential boom, much-anticipated by economists, may be getting more traction. Overall, the data shows fewer workers losing their jobs, Americans eager to spend more, and corporate profits getting fatter, sending all three major Wall…


February Retail Sales Fall 3 Percent After Soaring the Month Before

NEW YORK—Americans spent less last month, partly due to bad weather in parts of the country that kept shoppers away from stores. Retail sales fell a seasonally adjusted 3 percent in February from the month before, the U.S. Commerce Department said Tuesday. The decline comes after retail sales soared in January as people spent $600…


February Retail Sales Fall 3 Percent After January Surge

NEW YORK—Americans spent less last month, partly due to bad weather in parts of the country that kept shoppers away from stores. Retail sales fell a seasonally adjusted 3 percent in February from the month before, the U.S. Commerce Department said March 16. The decline comes after retail sales soared in January as people spent…


Orange County City Looks to Recoup Lost Revenue Through Cannabis Sales

Costa Mesa is moving forward with its cannabis retail plans as it tries to offset revenue lost from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. During a Feb. 23 special study session, city council will discuss a staffing plan for implementing Costa Mesa’s retail cannabis tax. The move comes after voters last November passed a ballot measure that will allow the city to…


COVID-19 Pressures US Retail Sales; Manufacturing Shines

WASHINGTON—U.S. retail sales fell for a third straight month in December as renewed measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 triggered job losses, further evidence that the wounded economy lost considerable speed at the end of 2020. The downturn in sales reported by the Commerce Department on Friday is, however, unlikely to push the economy…


Australian Retail Sales Rose in November

Retail sales in November were up 7.1 percent on the previous month, after statisticians increased their preliminary estimate by 0.1 percent. Victorians were largely responsible for the sizeable improvement on October trade, evident in the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ improved report on January 11. Victoria’s retail sales grew by 22.4 percent (previously estimated to be…


US Holiday Retail Sales Rise 3 Percent as Online Shopping Booms, Mastercard Report

U.S. retail sales rose 3 percent during this year’s expanded holiday shopping season from Oct. 11 to Dec. 24, a report by Mastercard Inc said on Saturday, powered by a pandemic-driven shift toward online shopping. U.S. ecommerce sales jumped 49 percent in this year’s holiday shopping season, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse report, underscoring the COVID-19…


US Holiday Retail Sales Rise 3 Percent as Online Shopping Booms, Mastercard Reports

U.S. retail sales rose 3 percent during this year’s expanded holiday shopping season powered by a pandemic-driven shift toward online shopping, a report by Mastercard Inc. said on Dec. 26. U.S. e-commerce sales jumped 49 percent in this year’s holiday shopping season, from Oct. 11 to Dec. 24, according to the Mastercard SpendingPulse report, underscoring…