Yesterday, the U.S. Census Bureau released its latest nominal read of retail sales showing increasing activity in June with sales rising 0.2% from May and 4.3% on a year-over-year basis on an aggregate of all items including food, fuel and healthcare services.
Nominal "discretionary" retail sales including home furnishings, home garden and building materials, consumer electronics and department store sales declined slightly, falling 0.31% from May but rising 1.73% above the level seen in June 2013 while, adjusting for inflation, “real” discretionary retail sales declined 0.48% on the month and falling 0.26% since June 2013.