Business statistics :January Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book and Music Stores Sales Inch up In January ( US )

Spending at sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores increased 0.6 percent seasonally-adjusted month-to-month in January and 8.3 percent unadjusted year-over-year, according to advance estimates released by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The estimates showed total retail and food services sales (which include non-general merchandise categories such as automobiles, gasoline stations, and restaurants) increased 0.1 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month and increased 4.7 percent adjusted year-over-year. By comparison, sales excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants rose 0.3 percent from December on a seasonally adjusted basis and 5.4 percent from January 2012 on an unadjusted basis, according to the National Retail Federation.

“With the return of healthy housing prices, stronger employment statistics combined with historic highs on Wall Street at the end of 2012 and 2013, consumers seem a bit more confident these days,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said. “Even though retail sales were relatively modest in January, consumers seem to have adjusted accordingly to rising taxes and energy prices. Far from secure, consumer confidence continues to be shaky.”

In late January, NRF released its annual retail sales forecast for 2013. NRF estimates that retail industry sales (excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants) will increase 3.4 percent in 2013, with online sales set to grow between 9.0 and 12.0 percent.
Other findings from the January retail sales report include:

• Clothing and clothing accessories stores' sales decreased 0.3 percent seasonally-adjusted month-to-month and increased 5.9 percent unadjusted year-over-year. 
• Electronics and appliance stores’ sales increased 0.2 percent seasonally-adjusted month-to-month and increased 2.7 percent unadjusted year-over-year. 
• Furniture and home furnishing stores’ sales decreased 0.2 percent seasonally-adjusted month-to-month and increased 5.8 percent unadjusted year-over-year. 
• General merchandise stores’ sales increased 1.1 seasonally-adjusted month-to-month and decreased 0.3 percent unadjusted year-over-year. 
• Health and personal care stores’ sales decreased 1.0 percent seasonally-adjusted month-to-month and increased 0.7 percent unadjusted year-over-year. 
• Nonstore retailers’ sales increased 0.9 percent seasonally-adjusted month-to-month and increased 17.5 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

“Today’s retail sales figures continue to indicate a stable yet fragile economy,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Consumers are continuing to hold back on spending just as our economy is held back by political brinkmanship in D.C. The failure to address the critical challenges confronting our economy will continue to dampen consumer confidence, which will in turn mute sales and growth. The economy will continue to limp along until our politicians finally address our tax and spending challenges and put forward a pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda.”

( SportsOneSource Media )

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