Department stores and general merchandise stores helped June have a strong increase in retail sales. Department stores rose .7% to $13.2 billion and general merchandise stores rose .4% to $56.1 billion. Overall, retail sales rose .6% in June, to $457 billion, above economists’ expectations for the month.
“June’s retail sales grew at a solid pace on the heels of a strong showing for both May and April,” said Jack Kleinhenz, chief economist at the National Retail Federation. “Consumer spending has rebounded strongly in the second quarter after two weak previous quarters. Additional job gains and rising wages are supporting the strength in retail sales and should provide momentum going into the second half of 2016.”
Apparel and accessories stores had a slight decline of a 1% drop in sales to $21.1 billion. Those clothing stores did have a strong May.
Economists are optimistic for a continued strong second half of the year, and expect back to school sales growth slightly higher than was seen last year.
Source: WWD.COM
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