ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES FOR RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICES April 2012

The U.S. Census Bureau announced that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for April, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $408.0 billion, an increase of 0.1 percent (±0.5%) from the previous month and 6.4 percent (±0.7%) above April 2011.  Total sales for the February through April 2012 period were up 6.6 percent (±0.5%) from the same period a year ago.  The February to March 2012 percent change was revised from 0.8 percent (±0.5) to 0.7 percent (±0.3%).  

Retail trade sales were up 0.1 percent (±0.5%) from March 2012 and 6.1 percent (±0.7%) above last year.  Nonstore retailers sales were up 11.0 percent (±3.1%) from April 2011 and building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers were up 10.3 percent (±2.8%) from last year.