US Retail Sales Edge 1.9% Lower in December, Worse than Feared 0.1% Decline

Source: Census Bureau

US retail and food services sales for the last month of 2021 was $626.8 billion, down 1.9% from November and higher than expected fall of 0.1%.  SPY is down -0.067%, DXY is up +0.09%.

• The fall in the retail sales was the worst in 10 months, with rising inflation and Omicron variant dampening activity.
• Despite the retail sales decline, they were still 16.9% above December 2020. The total retail sales in 2021 were also 19.3% higher than in 2020. 
• Retail trade sales fell by 2.1% in December from November, although they were 14.4% higher than the prior year level. Gasoline stations posted a 41% increase in the same period, while food services and drinking places rose by 41.3%.