The US Department of Commerce has published an analysis revealing that US online retail sales grew only 6.4% in January 2020.
US nonstore retail sales grew significantly slower year over year in January 2020 than in December and for 2019 overall, according to a Digital Commerce 360 analysis of US Department of Commerce advance monthly figures. In January, nonstore spending, excluding estimated fuel sales, increased just 6.4%, achieving only about a quarter of December’s record-breaking 24.2% increase and less than half of the 13.9% jump registered in 2019.
Total retail sales through all channels increased just 2.5% year over year in January 2020 without fuel, nearly half of the 4.9% increase in January 2019. In December 2019, the uptick in all retail spending reached an impressive 6.3%, which was revised down from initial Commerce Department figures, and helped to close out the year with 3.8% growth in total retail sales.
According to Commerce Department data, overall sales were down year over year for a number of merchandise categories: electronics and appliances, health and personal care, sporting goods, and hardware and home improvement. General merchandise stores did well despite a 3.9% decline in the sales of one subcategory—department stores—suggesting superstores, warehouse clubs and dollar stores more than offset the flagging purchases made through old-school retailers. Clothing and accessories sales were relatively flat, with a 0.7% dip.
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