Retail sales stumble in December to finish 2018 but see annual gains

December retail sales, at $505.8 billion, were down 1.2% compared to November’s revised $512.2 billion (from $513.5 billion). While December retail sales saw a sequential decline, Commerce reported they were up 2.3% compared to December 2018. Total 2018 retail sales headed up 5% annually, to $6 trillion, according to Commerce, and total retail sales for the fourth quarter increased 3.7% annually.
Source: logistics Mgmt