News

Back-to-school shoppers boost August sales, slightly

September 14, 2012

According to recent calculations from the National Retail Federation, August retail sales had a boost from back-to-school shoppers.

Findings from the August retail sales report include:

• Clothing and clothing accessories stores' sales decreased 0.1 percent seasonally-adjusted month-to-month but increased 7.8 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
• Electronics and appliance stores’ sales decreased 1.4 percent seasonally-adjusted month-to-month and 2.1 percent unadjusted year-over-year. 
• Furniture and home furnishing stores’ sales increased 0.3 percent seasonally-adjusted month-to-month but 9.3 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

August retail sales released by the U.S. Department of Commerce showed total retail and food services sales (which include non-general merchandise categories such as automobiles, gasoline stations, and restaurants) increased 0.9 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month and 4.7 percent unadjusted year-over-year, according to the announcement.

"The retail industry continues to demonstrate its strength and resiliency during this fragile economic time," NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. "However consumers and retail companies continue to face many questions and challenges, from stubbornly high unemployment and stagnant incomes to depressed housing prices and the looming fiscal cliff, all playing into overall economic uncertainty and declining consumer confidence."

Read more about consumer behavior.