Sales
in retail and food services grew by 0.3 percent in February, up to a seasonally
adjusted $355.5 billion according to Friday estimates from the U.S. Census
Bureau.
The
figure was 3.9 percent improvement from the same month last year, despite the
adverse weather conditions that challenged markets.
Compared
with the period between December through February of last year sales were up
4.5 percent.
Retail
sales gained 0.3 percent since January with a 4.4 percent annual gain.
The
National Retail Federation reported that February retail sales, which don’t
include vehicles, gas stations or restaurants, rose at an unadjusted rate of
1.7 percent and 1 percent from a year ago.
Home
goods stores, which include furniture and décor retailers, saw a 0.7 percent
improvement from January despite slipping 1.9 percent for the year.
Electronics and appliance sellers experiences gains of 3.7 for the month but
remain down a minor, .3 percent for the year.
Some are
attributing the sales improvements to cabin fever with consumers anxious to buy
after being cooped up by severe weather conditions.
About EQUITIES:
Since 1951,
EQUITIES Magazine has been a leading media company providing business editorial
content designed to serve the needs of business leaders, professionals,
institutional investors and retail investors. We are focused on business and
the business of making money, not on lifestyle subjects. We publish original
reporting in print and on our website, as well as select content at
www.nasdaq.com. For 28 years we have hosted our own branded investor
conferences that connect public company CEO’s with our loyal readers in the
investment community.
Sign up for a
free one-year subscription
