Breakdown of October Monthly Retail Sales Data, in One Chart

Retail sales in the United States decreased by 0.1% month-over-month in October 2023, putting an end to a six-month streak of increases and compared with the market consensus of a 0.3% decline.

Sales at miscellaneous store retailers recorded the largest decrease (-1.7%), followed by furniture stores (-2.0%), motor vehicle dealers (-1.0%), sporting goods, musical instruments, and book sellers (-0.8%), gasoline stations (-0.3%), and general merchandise stores (-0.2%).

These declines were partially offset by rising receipts at health and personal care stores (1.1%), food & beverage stores (0.6%), electronics and appliances stores (0.6%), restaurants and bars (0.3%), and online trade (0.2%).

On a yearly basis, retail trade growth slowed to 2.5% in October from an upwardly revised 4.1% in September.