13:30 - dados USA
Enviado: 15/1/2004 14:38Retail sales show only modest gains
Dec. sales up 0.1% excluding strong auto sales
By Rex Nutting, CBS.MarketWatch.com
Last Update: 8:34 AM ET Jan. 15, 2004
WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) - U.S. retail sales were disappointingly weak in December, Commerce Department figures released Thursday indicated.
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Sales rose a seasonally adjusted 0.5 percent in December after an upwardly revised 1.2 percent gain in November. Auto sales, up 1.6 percent, accounted for the bulk of the gains.
Excluding autos, retail sales were up an anemic 0.1 percent in December after rising an upwardly revised 0.7 percent in November.
Excluding both autos and gasoline, sales rose 0.2 percent in December.
The results were a surprise. Automakers reported one of their best months ever, with annualized sales of just over 18 million. Meanwhile, major retail chains reported their best holiday season in four years.
Some of the disappointment was salved by the upward revision in November's growth from a 0.9 percent gain to 1.2 percent and to 0.7 percent from 0.4 percent excluding autos.
Economists surveyed by CBS MarketWatch were counting on robust gains of 0.8 percent and 0.4 percent excluding autos.
December's sales were up 6.7 percent from a year earlier. Sales for all of 2003 rose 5.6 percent to $3.8 trillion. Sales excluding autos rose 5.4 percent in 2003 to $2.9 trillion. The figures are not adjusted for price changes.
Retail sales account for about a third of gross domestic product.
Most retail sectors reported soft sales growth in December.
Some of the best results reflected better-than-usual holiday sales. Sales at nonstore retailers, such as online outlets and catalogs, grew 2.1 percent, the largest gain in nearly two years. Sales at leisure goods stores, such as music, sporting goods, books and hobbies, grew 0.8 percent.
Electronics and appliance store sales increased 0.4 percent, but other durable goods sales were weak. Furniture store sales were flat while building and garden store sales dropped 0.3 percent.
Other major sectors fared poorly. General merchandise store sales rose 0.3 percent, including a 0.1 percent drop at department stores. Clothing store sales rose 0.1 percent.
Sales at food and grocery stores plunged 0.7 percent, the largest decline in nearly four years. Sales at restaurants and bars, however, rose 0.4 percent.
Gasoline station sales fell 0.4 percent. Health and personal care store sales increased 0.2 percent.
Dec. sales up 0.1% excluding strong auto sales
By Rex Nutting, CBS.MarketWatch.com
Last Update: 8:34 AM ET Jan. 15, 2004
WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) - U.S. retail sales were disappointingly weak in December, Commerce Department figures released Thursday indicated.
CBS MARKETWATCH TOP NEWS
Mutual fund sales added to top 10 investment scams list
Yahoo handily tops Q4 revenue, matches EPS target
Intel Q4 sales, profit top estimates, but shares dip
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Sales rose a seasonally adjusted 0.5 percent in December after an upwardly revised 1.2 percent gain in November. Auto sales, up 1.6 percent, accounted for the bulk of the gains.
Excluding autos, retail sales were up an anemic 0.1 percent in December after rising an upwardly revised 0.7 percent in November.
Excluding both autos and gasoline, sales rose 0.2 percent in December.
The results were a surprise. Automakers reported one of their best months ever, with annualized sales of just over 18 million. Meanwhile, major retail chains reported their best holiday season in four years.
Some of the disappointment was salved by the upward revision in November's growth from a 0.9 percent gain to 1.2 percent and to 0.7 percent from 0.4 percent excluding autos.
Economists surveyed by CBS MarketWatch were counting on robust gains of 0.8 percent and 0.4 percent excluding autos.
December's sales were up 6.7 percent from a year earlier. Sales for all of 2003 rose 5.6 percent to $3.8 trillion. Sales excluding autos rose 5.4 percent in 2003 to $2.9 trillion. The figures are not adjusted for price changes.
Retail sales account for about a third of gross domestic product.
Most retail sectors reported soft sales growth in December.
Some of the best results reflected better-than-usual holiday sales. Sales at nonstore retailers, such as online outlets and catalogs, grew 2.1 percent, the largest gain in nearly two years. Sales at leisure goods stores, such as music, sporting goods, books and hobbies, grew 0.8 percent.
Electronics and appliance store sales increased 0.4 percent, but other durable goods sales were weak. Furniture store sales were flat while building and garden store sales dropped 0.3 percent.
Other major sectors fared poorly. General merchandise store sales rose 0.3 percent, including a 0.1 percent drop at department stores. Clothing store sales rose 0.1 percent.
Sales at food and grocery stores plunged 0.7 percent, the largest decline in nearly four years. Sales at restaurants and bars, however, rose 0.4 percent.
Gasoline station sales fell 0.4 percent. Health and personal care store sales increased 0.2 percent.