Retail and food services sales in the United States were virtually unchanged in December compared to last month's figures, landing at $735 billion, the US Census Bureau revealed in its report published on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the December figure observed a 2.4% rise compared to the corresponding month in 2024. Total sales for the period of three months since October 2025 were up by 3% year-on-year. Nonstore retailers rose by 5.3% compared to 2024, while the food service and drinking places increased by 4.7% year-on-year. For the full year of 2025, total sales advanced 3.7% from 2024. (full story)

Consumers activity slowed sharply for the December holiday shopping season amid a spate of rough weather and persistently higher inflation, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. Retail sales were flat on the month following a 0.6% increase in November, according to numbers adjusted for seasonality but not inflation. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had expected an increase of 0.5%. Excluding autos, sales also were unchanged, against the estimate for a 0.3% increase. On an annual basis, sales rose 2.4%, a considerable step down from the 3.3% pace in November. Sales ex-autos were up 3.3% annually in December. The ... (full story)