Weather chills February retail sales

Washington, D.C. – The long winter chill put a damper on consumer spending and retail sales in February. According to data from the National Retail Federation (NRF), excluding automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants, retail sales declined 0.2% seasonally-adjusted month-to-month, yet were up 3% on an unadjusted year-over-year basis.



Additional findings from NRF’s monthly retail sales analysis found that:



Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers:

• -2.3% month-to-month

• +3.5% year-over-year



Clothing and clothing accessories stores:

• Flat month-to-month

• +2.4% year-over-year



Electronics and appliance stores:

• -1.2% month-to-month

• +0.3% year-over-year



Furniture and home furnishing stores:

• -0.1% month-to-month

• +5.4% year-over-year



General merchandise stores:

• -1.2% month-to-month

• +0.4% year-over-year



Health and personal care stores:

• -0.7% month-to-month

• +4.4% year-over-year



Online and other non-store retailers:

• +2.2% month-to-month

• +6.1% year-over-year



Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores:

• +2.3% month-to-month

• +3.3% year-over-year.”



“American consumers saw their shadows, snow mounds and low temp thermometers last month and decided to stay indoors,” NRF chief economist Jack Kleinhenz said. “Extreme winter weather in many parts of the country impacted store sales in February, and as such monthly retail sales came in weaker than expected.”