The advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for December was $529.6 billion, an increase of 0.3% (±0.4%) from November, and 5.8% (±0.7%) year-over-year.
Forecasts ranged from a low of 0.2% to a high of 0.6%. The consensus forecast was 0.4%.
Total sales for the 12 months of 2019 increased 3.6% (±0.4%) from 2018. Total sales for the period from October 2019 to December 2019 gained 4.1% (±0.5%) from the same period a year ago.
The October 2019 to November 2019 percent change was revised from up 0.2% (±0.4%) to up 0.3% (±0.3%).
Retail trade sales were up 0.4% (±0.4%) from November 2019, and 6.0% (±0.5%) above last year. Nonstore retailers were up 19.2% (±1.4%) from December 2018, and gasoline stations were up 11.3% (±1.2%) from last year.
