The Census Bureau reported Thursday that retail sales are 1.1 percent higher than their levels from a year ago, after a brutal plunge in March and April was offset by a decent rebound in May and June. Non-store sales—which includes online shopping—slumped by 2.4 percent over the past month but are 23.5 percent higher from a year ago. Spending at restaurants and bars jumped by 20 percent last month, but it’s still down by 26.3 percent from last year. Sales at clothiers more than doubled between May and June, yet they have collapsed by 23.2 percent from a year ago. Shoppers have responded by shifting their spending, and not only to online retailers.

Source: The Standard July 16, 2020 14:03 UTC