March Retail Sales Growth Marks Positive Start to Spring, According to NRF

0
3

Share on LinkedIn

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2012 – Thanks to an earlier Easter holiday and unseasonably warm weather through much of the country, retailers in March witnessed solid sales growth. According to the National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, March retail industry sales (excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants) increased 0.8 percent seasonally adjusted from February and 6.6 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

“Consumers have demonstrated the desire and ability to spend on discretionary items, further helping to spur economic and retail sales growth in the first quarter of 2012,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “While retailers will wait until the end of April to gauge the success of the spring shopping season, it’s evident that consumers are holding their own against rising gas prices and other economic concerns.”

March retail sales, released today by the U.S. Department of Commerce, showed total retail sales (which includes non-general merchandise categories such as automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants) increased 0.8 percent adjusted month-to-month and 7.4 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

“Moderate retail sales growth in March will help to offset murkier recent economic employment data,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said. “We expect to see gains through the all-important summer months, but job and weak income growth coupled with stubbornly high gas costs will continue to force consumers to make tough, price-sensitive choices.”

Other findings from the March retail sales numbers include:
• Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers’ sales increased 3.0 seasonally-adjusted month-to-month and 12.4 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

• Clothing and clothing accessories stores sales increased 0.9 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month and 12.5 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

• Spring goods, hobby, book and music stores’ sales increased 0.5 percent seasonally-adjusted month-to-month and 8.9 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

• Furniture and home furnishings stores sales increased 1.1 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month and 7.9 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
As the world’s largest retail trade association and the voice of retail worldwide, NRF represents retailers of all types and sizes, including chain restaurants and industry partners, from the United States and more than 45 countries abroad. Retailers operate more than 3.6 million U.S. establishments that support one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.5 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s Retail Means Jobs campaign emphasizes the economic importance of retail and encourages policymakers to support a Jobs, Innovation and Consumer Value Agenda aimed at boosting economic growth and job creation. www.nrf.com
###

News Editor
CustomerThink offers a free news posting service for press releases relevant to our community. To submit your press release to our news editor, send an email to [email protected] with the press release headline and main content in the email subject line and body, respectively. That's it! Approved press releases will appear in our news category within one business day of submission.

ADD YOUR COMMENT

Please use comments to add value to the discussion. Maximum one link to an educational blog post or article. We will NOT PUBLISH brief comments like "good post," comments that mainly promote links, or comments with links to companies, products, or services.

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here