13 March 2002, 16:41 U.S. Retail Sales-OVERVIEW
*U.S. Feb retail, food service sales +0.3%; ex-autos +0.2%
*U.S. Feb retail sales ex-food services +0.2%
*U.S. Feb auto sales +0.5%; autos and parts sales +0.4%
*U.S. Feb electronic sales +1.1%; bldg material sales -0.4%
*U.S. Feb health sales -0.1%; food/beverage -0.2%; apparel -0.1%
*U.S. Feb gas station sales +0.0%; department store sales -0.3%
*U.S. Jan retail, food service sales revised to -0.3 from -0.2%
Washington, March 13 (OsterDowJones) - U.S. retail and food service
sales increased 0.3% in February, while sales excluding autos rose 0.2%,
the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.
February's retail and food service sales data was far below analysts'
predictions for a 0.7% increase and below excluding autos forecast for an
increase of 0.4%.
In January, retail and food service sales revised to a 0.3% loss,
previously reported as down 0.2%.
IMPORTANT RETAIL SALES SECTORS
--February's auto sales increased 0.5%, but dropped 5.1% from the
previous period.
--Building material sales slipped 0.4% in February after rising 2.8%
in January.
--Furniture sales rose 1.5% in February, followed by a 0.3% increase
in January.
--Department store sales dropped 0.3% in February. January's department
store sales revised to up 1.2%.
--Sales at gas stations were unchanged in February, following a 4.2%
increase the previous month.
--Sales in food stores for February fell 0.2%, but increased a revised
0.1% the previous month.
WHAT WAS EXPECTED
The February sales data was within the range of OsterDowJones survey,
which extended from up 0.3% to up 1.4% for overall sales. Non-automotive
sales surveyed results ranged from up 0.2% to up 0.9%.
OTHER DETAILS, HISTORICALS
February retail and food sales rose to a seasonally adjusted level of
$296.414 billion. Sales were up 2.9% versus a year later.
Excluding the automotive sector, sales increased to a seasonally adjusted
$223.635 billion, and were up 2.8% from a year ago.
The seasonally unadjusted 2-month cumulative total for the retail and
food service sales increased to $529,327, up 3.0% from the same period
a year ago.
© 1999-2024 Forex EuroClub
All rights reserved