U.S. retail and food services sales for January, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, rose a surprising 0.3 % (±0.5%) to $382.9 billion from December and 3.9% (±0.7%) above January 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.
Retail stocks closed higher on the report.
Total sales for the November 2007 through January 2008 period were up 4.4 % (±0.3%) from the same period a year ago. The November to December 2007 percent change was unrevised from -0.4% (±0.4%)*.
Retail trade sales were up 0.4% (±0.7%)* from December 2007 and were 3.8% (±0.8%) above last year. Gasoline station sales were up 23.0% (±2.8%) from January 2007 and sales of nonstore retailers were up 10.6% (±2.0%) from last year.
