January sales fell 11% from year-ago, home down 14%

Nov.-Jan. volume drops 9.5% year-over-year

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 2/12/2009 8:09:00 AM

Washington – Retail trade sales in January 2009 were 1.1% above December levels, but fell 11.0% below January 2008, the U.S. Census Bureau said today in its advance estimates statement.

The measure excludes food services sales volume. With food services, January 2009 volume of $344.6 billion was 1.0% above December and down 9.7% from January 2008. All figures are adjusted for seasonal variations and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes.

In the furniture and home furnishings stores segment, January sales volume of $8.29 billion was down 1.3% from December, and plunged 14.3% from January 2008.

Looking at overall sales for the retail fourth quarter, Census reported November-January sales down 9.5% from the year-ago period.