WASHINGTON (AP) – Retail sales registered a modest gain in November, a sign that holiday shopping is off to a solid though unspectacular start.
The Commerce Department said Friday that retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 0.2 percent to $448 billion last month. This marks an improvement after months of lackluster spending as cheaper gasoline depressed overall sales volumes. Retail spending improved a mere 0.1 percent in October after flat readings in September and August.
But in November, shoppers upped their spending at clothiers, sporting goods stores and electronics outlets. Spending at online retailers such as Amazon advanced a healthy 0.6 percent. General merchandise stores also improved, but in a bleak sign for chains such as Macy’s sales at department stores were flat.
The report should provide some relief after evidence of tepid shopping during Black Friday – the day after Thanksgiving when consumers often splurge – and provide a better sense about their confidence in the broader economy. Initial figures indicated that many consumers stayed at home, potentially choosing to browse for holiday gifts online instead of wading through crowds at stores.
The National Retail Federation estimated that spending averaged $299.60 per person over Thanksgiving weekend. That was down from $381 last year. But the trade association says the figures are not comparable due to methodology changes.