Quarterly Retail Commodity Survey, second quarter 2014

Released: 2014-10-20

Retail sales increased 5.2% from the same quarter a year earlier to $132.9 billion in the second quarter, the largest year-over-year growth since the first quarter of 2012. Higher sales were reported in all 10 major commodity groups.

Sales of motor vehicles, parts and services rose 5.1%, the fifth consecutive quarterly increase. Sales of new trucks, vans, minivans and sport utility vehicles (+7.6%) were the largest contributor to the gain. According to the New Motor Vehicles Sales Survey, the number of trucks sold was up 7.3% from the second quarter of 2013. Sales also grew for used vehicles (+6.8%) and automotive parts and accessories (+2.8%).

Sales of automotive fuels, oils and additives grew 12.3% year over year in the second quarter, while consumer prices for gasoline increased 6.1% over the same period.

Receipts for food and beverages rose 3.9%. Most of the increase came from sales of food (+4.4%), led by price-induced gains for fresh fruits and vegetables (+8.4%) and fresh meat and poultry (+8.6%). Sales of candy, confectionary and snack foods increased 7.1% year over year, as Easter shifted to the second quarter in 2014. Food and beverage stores saw their share of sales for food fall from 78.4% in the second quarter of 2013 to 77.5% in the second quarter of 2014, mainly to the benefit of general merchandisers.

Sales of clothing, footwear and accessories rose 4.7%. This increase came mostly from clothing and accessories (+4.5%), led by women's clothing and accessories (+5.7%) and girls', boys' and infants' clothing and accessories (+9.4%). Most of the growth was attributable to a higher volume of sales. Footwear sales grew 6.5%, the second largest increase in nearly two years, led by gains in non-athletic footwear.

Sporting and leisure goods were up 7.1% in the second quarter. A 15.5% increase in the sales of toys, games and hobby supplies accounted for most of the growth. Sales of this commodity can be affected by the timing of new product releases.

Sales of hardware, lawn and garden products grew 2.3%, reflecting higher sales of lawn and garden products (+3.8%) as well as hardware and home renovation products (+1.5%).

Furniture, home furnishings and electronics sales rose 1.8%, the largest year-over-year increase since early 2011. This increase was led by commodities associated with home buying and renovation, such as floor coverings and tiles (+7.2%) and indoor furniture (+3.0%). Tempering the gains were lower sales of home electronics, computers and cameras (-3.4%), the commodity group's 10th consecutive decline.

Contact information

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