January Retail Sales Show Consumers Spending on Essentials: NRF
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Retail sales last month indicated that consumers were focused on buying necessities more than discretionary items, the National Retail Federation said yesterday. The trade group said retail industry sales for January (excluding automobile, gas station, and restaurant sales) rose 2.0 percent unadjusted over last year, and 0.1 percent seasonally adjusted from December.