Sponsored by
US sales hit as consumers cut back
Retail sales in the United States rose less than expected in January as consumers cut back on car purchases and did less online shopping, figures yesterday revealed.
Total retail sales increased just 0.4 per cent after being flat in December, the US commerce department said. Economists had forecast sales climbing 0.7 per cent last month.
The government had initially estimated that sales rose 0.1 per cent in December, and yesterday it also revised downward its reading for retail sales in November. The revisions suggest consumers did not spend as much as previously thought during the holiday shopping season.
Sales of cars and car-parts dropped 1.1 per cent, while shopping at “non-store retailers”, a category dominated by online sales, also fell 1.1 per cent, the biggest decline since March 2009.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Scottish independence: I don’t want ‘separatism’ says Sir Tom Farmer
- Rangers administration: End game nears for fallen icon
- Vatican poised to make more arrests in papal leaks scandal
- USA 5 - 1 Scotland: Donovan grabs hattrick as Scots routed in Florida
- Rangers administration: Duff & Phelps ‘hopeful’ that Taxman will agree to CVA
- Scottish independence: I don’t want ‘separatism’ says Sir Tom Farmer
- Scottish independence: Labour voters ‘will deliver independence’
- Rangers administration: End game nears for fallen icon
- Leaders: Blurred vision on independence
- Rangers administration: Duff & Phelps ‘hopeful’ that Taxman will agree to CVA
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Edinburgh
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.