Key Points:
- Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, rose 0.4% in December, down from a revised 0.8% increase in November.
- Excluding autos, retail sales rose by 0.4% over the month.
- Retail sales were 3.9% above December 2023 but CPI data released earlier this month showed prices have increased 2.9% in the last year.
- Retail sales are not adjusted for inflation and reflect price differences as well as purchase amounts.
- Total sales for the October 2024 through December 2024 period were up 3.7% from the same period a year ago.
- The Right Facts will continue to monitor retail sales.