The U.S. Census Bureau announced that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for July, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $403.9 billion, an increase of 0.8 percent (±0.5%) from the previous month and 4.1 percent (±0.7%) above July 2011.  Total sales for the May through July 2012 period were up 4.3 percent (±0.5%) from the same period a year ago.  The May to June 2012 percent change was revised from -0.5 percent (±0.5%) to -0.7% (±0.2%).

Retail trade sales were up 0.8 percent (±0.5%) from June 2012 and 3.7 percent (±0.7%) above last year.  Nonstore retailers sales were up 11.8 percent (±3.1%) from July 2011 and sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores were up 10.6 percent (±4.3%) from last year.

Source:  census.gov