December retail sales rose 1.9 percent, Census Bureau says

This marked the slowest monthly growth since January 2014, when sales rose by 1.7 percent.

Apparel sales were a bright spot, however, rising by 4.7 percent for the month. Restaurants and bars did well too, with a 4 percent sales increase in their own right.

Other sectors performed less well, including nonstore retail sales growth, which was down from an 11.1 percent rate in November, to 3.7 percent in December. This, too, is the lowest year-over-year growth rate since January 2014, when nonstore sales rose by 3.1 percent.

General merchandise sales were up by 2.2 percent, and health and personal-care product sales rose by 1.6 percent, while the food-and-beverage and building-supply sectors saw sales rise by 1.4 percent each.

Electronics sales edged up by 0.7 percent for the month, but home furnishings slipped by 0.2 percent, and the sporting-goods, hobbies, books and music category sustained a 13 percent sales decline. Traditional and discount department stores reported a 2.8 reduction in December sales versus December 2017.

Meanwhile, total nonadjusted holiday season retail sales — spanning November and December — rose by 3.1 percent in 2018, including restaurant and bar sales, according to figures just released by ICSC Research. Apparel was the best performer there, with sales rising by 4.2 percent.