Retail Sales in U.S. Decrease to End Weakest Year Since 2009
- Sales excluding automobiles and gas were little changed
- Unexpected decline in retail control group that feeds into GDP
U.S. Retail Sales Disappoint, Weakest Since 2009
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Sales at U.S. retailers declined in December to wrap the weakest year since 2009, raising concern about the momentum in consumer spending heading into 2016.
The 0.1 percent drop matched the median forecast of 84 economists surveyed by Bloomberg and followed a 0.4 percent gain in November, Commerce Department figures showed Friday in Washington. For all of 2015, purchases climbed 2.1 percent, the smallest advance of the current economic expansion.