Record high retail sales in November, but core sales missed expectations and real sales stagnant

From Investing.com: 2024-12-17 11:57:00

Total retail sales for November reached a new record high at $724.6 billion, exceeding expectations. Sales are now 38% above pre-COVID levels. November saw a 0.7% increase in retail sales, surpassing the historical average of 0.4%. Over the last 12 months, retail sales are up 3.8%. Motor vehicles and online retailers led the gains, while brick and mortar stores struggled. However, core retail sales, excluding autos, missed expectations at 0.2%. Real retail sales, adjusted for inflation, have not increased in 3.5 years, showing that consumers are paying more for the same amount of goods due to higher prices.



Read more at Investing.com: Record retail sales not as good as they appear