Monthly sales show slight uptick in November

U.S. retail and food services improved slightly in November, but NAICS code 444 retailers took a step backward. 

The U.S. Census Bureau announced Tuesday morning that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for November, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $399.3 billion, an increase of 0.2% from the previous month and 6.7% above November 2010.

Total sales for the September through November 2011 period were up 7.4% from the same period a year ago. The September to October 2011 percent change was revised from +1.1% to +1.3%

Retail trade sales were up 0.3% from October 2011, and 6.8% above last year. Non-store retailers’ sales were up 13.9% from November 2010.

Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (NAICS code 444 businesses) showed a 0.3% decline in November compared with October. The same classification showed a 6.2% increase over November 2010.