--U.S. Jan retail, food service sales -0.2%; ex-autos +1.2%
--U.S. Jan retail sales ex-food services -0.1%
--U.S. Jan auto sales -5.0%; autos and parts sales -4.3%
--U.S. Jan electronic sales -3.6%; bldg material sales +2.9%
--U.S. Jan health sales +2.3%; food/beverage +0.4%; apparel +2.5%
--U.S. Jan gas station sales +5.1%; department store sales +2.0%
--U.S. Dec retail, food service sales revised to +0.2 from -0.1%
Washington, Feb. 13 (OsterDowJones) - U.S. retail and food service sales fell 0.2% in January, while sales excluding autos rose 1.2, the Commerce Department reported on Wednesday.
January's retail and food service sales data was slightly below analysts' predictions for a 0.1% drop, and below excluding auto forecast for an increase of 0.2%.
In December, retail and food service sales revised to a 0.2% gain, previously reported as down 0.1%.
IMPORTANT RETAIL SALES SECTORS
--January's auto sales fell 5.0%, and dropped 1.4% from the previous period.
--Building material sales increased 2.9% in January after falling 1.3% in December.
--Furniture sales rose 0.4% in January, while December's sales rose 1.0%.
--Department store sales, which is essentially affected by lowered interest rates, increased 2.0% in January, following a revised 1.5% gain in December.
--An increased demand for gasoline sent sales at gas stations up 5.1% in January, following a 3.2% drop the previous month.
--Sales in food stores for January rose 0.4% after increasing a revised 0.6% in the previous month.
WHAT WAS EXPECTED
The January sales data was within the range of OsterDowJones survey, which extended from down 0.3% to up 0.2% for overall sales. Non-automotive sales surveyed results ranged from unchanged to up 0.5%.

OTHER DETAILS, HISTORICALS
January's retail and food sales decreased to a seasonally adjusted level of $295.714 billion from December's $296.424 billion. Sales were up 2.8% versus a year later.
Excluding the automotive sector, sales increased to a seasonally adjusted $223.014 billion, and up 2.5% from a year ago.
The seasonally unadjusted 1-month cumulative total for the retail and food service sales was $266.234 billion, up 3.2% from the same period a year ago.