US advance retail sales decline 0.1% m-o-m in February

"Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for February 2018 were $492.0 billion, a decrease of 0.1 percent from the previous month, but 4.0 percent above February 2017”, the U.S. Census Bureau announced this Friday. 

Key highlights:

   •  Total sales for the December 2017 through February 2018 period were up 4.3 percent from the same period a year ago. 
   •  The December 2017 to January 2018 percent change was revised from down 0.3 percent to down 0.1 percent. 
   •  Retail trade sales were down 0.1 percent from January 2018, but 4.2 percent above last year. 
   •  Nonstore Retailers were up 10.1 percent from February 2017, while Gasoline Stations were up 7.9 percent (±1.6 percent) from last year.