Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales in June were $401.5 billion, down 0.5 percent from May, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
But, that amount is 3.8 percent higher than the $386.9 billion in sales in June 2011.
Total sales for the April through June period were up 4.7 percent from the same period a year ago.
Retail trade sales were down 0.5 percent from May, but 3.5 percent above last year. Nonstore retailers’ sales were up 10.9 percent from June 2011, and furniture and home furnishings store sales rose 7.8 percent. Department stores saw the biggest decline over last year, dropping 3.2 percent.
