Key Points:
- Retail sales, a measure of purchases at stores, restaurants and online, fell 0.9% in January, down from a revised 0.7% increase in December.
- Excluding autos, retail sales rose by 0.4% over the month.
- Retail sales were 4.2% above January 2024 but CPI data released earlier this month showed prices have increased 3.0% in the last year.
- Retail sales are not adjusted for inflation and reflect price differences as well as purchase amounts.
- Total sales for the November 2024 through January 2025 period were up 4.2% from the same period a year ago.
- The Right Facts will continue to monitor retail sales.