Today, the U.S. Census Bureau released its latest nominal read of retail sales showing improving activity in April with sales rising 1.3% from March and rising 3.0% 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 0.21% from March and rose 3.71% above the level seen in April 2015 while, adjusting for inflation, “real” discretionary retail sales declined 0.21% on the month and rose 2.96% since April 2015.