Retail sales, including NAICS 444, grow in April

The U.S. Census Bureau reported yesterday that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for April were $389.4 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis. That's an increase of 0.5% from the previous month, and up 7.6% compared with April 2010. 

Total sales for the February-through-April  period were up 8.1% from the same period a year ago.

Looking specifically at NAICS classification 444 -- Building material & garden equipment & supplies dealers -- advanced sales for April were $24.496 billion; that's up slightly from the March figure of $24.461 billion, but down 3.7% from $25.446 billion in the year-ago month.

The Advance Monthly Sales report also revealed overall retail trade sales were up 0.6% from March, and 7.9% above last year. Nonstore retailers sales were up 15.5% from last year.

All the figures above are adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes.