January's U.S. Retail and Food Services Sales Report (02.14.2025)

In January 2025, advance estimates for U.S. retail and food services sales, adjusted for seasonal fluctuations, holidays, and trading-day differences (but not for inflation), amounted to $723.9 billion.

This figure reflects a 0.9% decline (±0.5%) from December 2024 but marks a 4.2% increase (±0.5%) compared to January 2024.

Three-Month Performance (November 2024 - January 2025)

For the three-month period spanning November 2024 to January 2025, sales increased by 4.2% (±0.5%) compared to the same period the previous year. Additionally, the month-over-month sales growth for December 2024 was revised upward from an initial estimate of 0.4% (±0.5%) to 0.7% (±0.3%), indicating stronger-than-expected performance in the final month of 2024.

Retail Trade Performance

Retail trade sales experienced a 1.2% decline (±0.5%) from December 2024, but remained 4.0% higher (±0.5%) than in January 2024, demonstrating continued year-over-year growth.

• Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers: Sales surged by 6.4% (±1.8%) compared to January 2024, highlighting robust demand in the automotive sector.
• Food Services and Drinking Places: Sales climbed 5.4% (±1.9%) year-over-year, reflecting consistent consumer spending in the dining and hospitality industries.

Overall, while retail sales showed a slight pullback from the previous month, the annual growth trends suggest sustained consumer activity across key sectors.

Source: US Census Bureau