US: Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for April were $474.9 billion, an increase of 0.4%

Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for April 2017, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $474.9 billion, an increase of 0.4 percent (±0.5 percent)* from the previous month, and 4.5 percent (±0.9 percent) above April 2016, said the US Census Bureau in its official report on Friday.

Key findings:

• Total sales for the February 2017 through April 2017 period were up 4.7 percent (±0.7 percent) from the same period a year ago. The February 2017 to March 2017 percent change was revised from down 0.2 percent (±0.5 percent) to up 0.1 percent (±0.2 percent)
• Retail trade sales were up 0.4 percent (±0.5 percent)* from March 2017, and up 4.5 percent (±0.7 percent) from last year. Gasoline Stations sales were up 12.3 percent (±1.4 percent) from April 2016, while Nonstore Retailers were up 11.9 percent (±1.8 percent) from last year