Retail Sales Disappoint Again: Department Stores Clobbered in 2017

Economists were looking for a big rebound in retail sales in April from a dismal showing in March.

The rebound came, but it was less than the Econoday consensus estimate of .6%. However, revisions took March from -0.2% to +0.1%.

Retail sales did recover in April but not as much as expected, up 0.4 percent overall and up 0.3 percent excluding autos which both miss Econoday’s consensus estimates by 2 tenths. Core readings are likewise soft, up 0.3 percent ex-auto ex-gas which misses the consensus by 1 tenth and up only 0.2 percent for the control group where a 0.4 percent gain was the call.

Vehicle sales rose 0.7 percent in April following three straight sizable declines. Nonstore retailers continue to outperform with electronics & appliances showing a second strong gain. But showing a third month of weakness and hinting at lack of demand for basic goods is the general merchandise category where the department store subcomponent, in an echo of company news out of the sector, shows only marginal strength.

Revisions are helpful but again but by much. The overall rate for March is revised 3 tenths higher to plus 0.1 percent but February, at minus 0.2 percent, is unrevised. The upward revision for March will be a modest plus for first-quarter GDP where the first estimate on consumer spending came in barely positive and at an expansion low.

Consumer confidence may be through the roof but retail sales, and consumer spending in general, has been stuck on the ground. Despite a very easy comparison against a very weak first quarter, second quarter consumer spending is off to no better than a moderate start.

Retail Sales

Retail Sales by Category

For the year, January through April,  general merchandise store sales are down -.3 percent.

Department stores have been getting killed. For the year, department stores sales are down a whopping 5.2 percent.

Mike “Mish” Shedlock