The February Advance Retail Sales Report

ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES FOR RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICES, February 2023 

Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for February 2023, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $697.9 billion, down 0.4 percent (±0.5 percent)* from the previous month, but up 5.4 percent (±0.7 percent) above February 2022. Total sales for the December 2022 through February 2023 period were up 6.4 percent (±0.4 percent) from the same period a year ago. The December 2022 to January 2023 percent change was revised from up 3.0 percent (±0.5 percent) to up 3.2 percent (±0.3 percent).

Retail trade sales were down 0.1 percent (±0.5 percent)* from January 2023, but up 4.0 percent (±0.7 percent) above last year. Food services and drinking places were up 15.3 percent (±2.6 percent) from February 2022, while general merchandise stores were up 10.5 percent (±0.2 percent) from last year.

The data is not inflation adjusted. The data in this graph is...

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Plain and simple... the quantity goods being bought, remained rather flat for several month. Inflation has made for the increases in cost.

but up 5.4 percent (±0.7 percent) above February 2022.

Again, that is before inflation is taken in consideration. The CPI-U, was 6.0%. 

For the month to month, with inflation adjustments...

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It hasn't fallen off a cliff, but it hasn't really grown. The growth is mostly due to inflation. 

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Adjusting for inflation, the above chart lists the only groupings that did not slip last month.

Not sure what to make of the data, to calculate going forward. Will find out next month!!