Quarterly Retail Commodity Survey, third quarter 2012

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Retail sales rose 1.8% from the third quarter of 2011 to the third quarter of 2012. Higher sales were reported in 7 of 10 major commodity groups.

The largest year-over-year increase occurred in sales of motor vehicles, parts and services (+4.6%), led by higher sales of new passenger cars (+10.2%). Sales were up for new trucks, vans, minivans and sport utility vehicles (+6.8%) and used automotive vehicles (+3.2%), while sales of automotive parts and accessories declined 2.1%. The New Motor Vehicles Sales Survey reported a 5.8% increase in unit sales of new motor vehicles in the third quarter compared with the same quarter of 2011, led by strong sales of passenger cars.

Food and beverage sales grew 2.5%. According to the Consumer Price Index, the price of food purchased from stores increased 1.9% between the third quarter of 2011 and the third quarter of 2012. The largest percentage increase was observed in the sales of deli, salad bars and prepared foods for take-out (+9.3%). The only commodity that declined, bakery products (in-house and commercial), decreased 2.4%.

Sales of automotive fuels, oils and additives were up 1.9%, as consumer prices for gasoline rose 1.8% over the same period.

The commodity group of furniture, home furnishings and electronics saw its sales fall 2.3%. Sales of home electronics, computers and cameras fell 6.4%. The decline was led by televisions and audio video equipment (-11.6%) and computer hardware and software (-4.9%).

Sales of hardware, lawn and garden products fell 1.0%. This mainly reflected lower sales of lawn and garden products (-3.6%).

Retail sales of clothing, footwear and accessories were flat in the third quarter from the same quarter of 2011. Increases in sales of luggage and jewellery (+4.5%) and footwear (+1.8%) were offset by a decrease in sales of clothing and accessories (-1.0%). Sales of women's clothing and accessories fell 2.8% while sales of men's clothing and accessories declined 0.5%.