Sales by sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores retail stores reached $20.3 billion in the first quarter ended March 31, up 5.0 percent from the first quarter of 2010, according to advance estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The government estimated retail sales by such stores reached $7.70 billion in March on a seasonally adjusted basis, essentially flat with February, but up 6.1 percent from the revised estimates for March 2010.
Sales by clothing and clothing accessores stores were running 4.1 percent ahead of last year on a first quarter basis. Retail sales of the category reached $18.3 billion, up 0.5 percent from preliminary estimates of February sales and up 3.4 percent from revised estimates for March 2010.
Overall retail trade sales were up 0.3 percent (±0.5%) from February 2011, and 7.3 percent (±0.7%) above last year. Gasoline stations sales were up 16.7 percent (±1.7%) from March 2010 and nonstore retailers sales were up 12.4 percent (±3.1%) from last year.Nonstore retailers include retailers who reach consumers through informercials, direct-response advertising, catalogs, door-to-door solicitation, mobile kiosks and vending machines.
Census produces three estimates of retail sales as more data becomes available: advance, preliminary and revised.
