U.S. retail sales minus motor vehicles, auto parts and gas grew 12.6 percent year over year in January on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to an advance estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau. They also grew from December to January, by 5.9 percent. Sales at restaurants and drinking establishments, which the Census Bureau classifies under a separate category from retail sales, declined 16.6 percent year over year in January but grew 6.9 percent from December to January.

“Stimulus checks and pent-up demand provided a tailwind for consumer spending,” said Moody’s vice president Mickey Chadha. “The overall strength in the numbers cannot be overstated, as every retail category was up over December, including clothing stores and department stores. Stay-at-home categories like building materials, furniture, sporting goods and grocery continued their strong upward trajectory with double-digit year-over-year increases.”

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January year-over-year sales grew …

… by more than December’s for

• Furniture and home stores
• Building materials and garden supply stores
• Food-and-beverage stores
• Health and personal care stores
• Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores
• General merchandise stores
• Nonstore sales, including online sales, by both physical retailers and mail-order companies

… by less than December’s for

• Miscellaneous stores, which includes florists; office supply, stationery and gift stores; and used merchandise stores

January year-over-year sales contracted …

… by less than December’s for

• Clothing stores
• Electronics stores
• Restaurants and drinking establishments

RELATED: December U.S. retail sales