Retail sales continue to grow in 2012

WASHINGTON — Retail sales continue to rise for 2012 as the U.S. Census Bureau reported results of February sales on Tuesday.

U.S. retail and food services sales for February, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $407.8 billion, an increase of 1.1% from the previous month and 6.5% above the year-ago period. Retail trade sales were up 1.1% from last month and 6.3% above last year.

Looking across retail categories, adjusted sales at grocery stores increased 0.3% to roughly $52.3 billion. Health and personal care stores held steady at $23.2 billion. Retail sales for drug stores and pharmacies were not recorded; however, sales experienced a slight gain from December to January (about $19.3 billion).