WASHINGTON–According to the National Retail Federation, retail industry sales for January—which excludes automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants—rose 0.5 percent seasonally adjusted from last month, but decreased 2.1 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
January retail sales released today by the U.S. Commerce Department reveal that total retail sales rose 1.0 percent seasonally adjusted from December, but decreased 9.0 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
General merchandise stores sales increased 1.1 percent seasonally adjusted over last month and 3.5 percent unadjusted over last year.
Although seasonal increases showed some signs of life for retailers, value-conscious shoppers still spent much less this year compared to last January, according to the NRF. For one, electronics and appliance stores sales increased 2.6 percent seasonally adjusted from last month, but fell 7.4 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
“While 2009 got off to a surprising start, it’s going to be difficult for retailers to maintain this momentum,” said Rosalind Wells, NRF’s chief economist, in a statement. “We expect the first half of the year to present challenges while giving way to sustained growth in the fourth quarter.”