Feb 14, 2012

Positive January Retail Sales Provide Strong Start To New Year, According To NRFBy Stephen E. SchatzNRF.com

Washington, DC – Building on the momentum of a strong holiday shopping season and propelled by gift card redemptions and warm weather, retailers’ January sales saw solid growth across the board. According to the National Retail Federation , January retail industry sales (excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants) increased 0.9 percent seasonally adjusted from December and 4.0 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

“Thanks to a combination of unseasonably warm weather across much of the country and millions of shoppers with gift cards burning holes in their pockets, retailers are still riding the tailwinds of consumers’ spending power,” said National Retail Federation President and CEO Matthew Shay. “As a traditionally slower sales month for the industry, it’s encouraging to see such sustained growth in consumer spending and sentiment.”

January retail sales data, released today by the U.S. Department of Commerce, showed total retail sales (which include non-general merchandise categories such as autos, gasoline stations and restaurants) increased 5.6 percent unadjusted year-over-year and 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month.

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