On a monthly basis, retail sales increased 0.3% from December to January(seasonally adjusted, after revisions), and sales were up 7.8% from January 2010.
This graph shows retail sales since 1992. This is monthly retail sales, seasonally adjusted (total and ex-gasoline).
Retail sales are up 13.7% from the bottom, and now 0.4% above the pre-recession peak.
The second graph shows the year-over-year change in retail sales (ex-gasoline) since 1993.
Retail sales ex-gasoline increased by 7.1% on a YoY basis (7.8% for all retail sales). This was below expectations for a 0.5% increase. Retail sales ex-autos were up 0.3%; also below expectations of a 0.5% increase. Although lower than expected, retail sales are now above the pre-recession peak in November 2007.
Calculated Risk: Summary for Week ending February 19th
There's a nice set of graphs in there showing the trend. So with restricted credit, where's the money coming from? I'd guess the savings rate has fallen again. I doubt this will end well.