Retail sales decreased 0.2% to $69.4 billion in October. Sales were down in four of nine subsectors, led by decreases at food and beverage retailers. Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers, were down 0.5% in October. In volume terms, retail sales decreased 0.6% in October. Core retail sales decreased 0.5% in October, posting their second consecutive monthly decline. The largest decrease to core retail sales came from food and beverage retailers (-2.0%), with beer, wine and liquor retailers (-10.6%) contributing the most to the decline. The decrease in ... (full story)