US retail sales up 0.3% m-o-m in April; March figures revised higher

The US Census Bureau announced the following advance estimates of US retail and food services sales for April 2018:

   •  Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for April 2018 were $497.6 billion, an increase of 0.3 percent from the previous month, and 4.7 percent above April 2017. 
   •  Total sales for the February 2018 through April 2018 period were up 4.6 percent from the same period a year ago. 
   •  The February 2018 to March 2018 percent change was revised from up 0.6 percent to up 0.8 percent.
   •  Retail trade sales were up 0.4 percent from March 2018, and 4.8 percent above last year. 
   •  Gasoline Stations were up 11.7 percent from April 2017, while Nonstore Retailers were up 9.6 percent from last year.