Retail sales fall 5.1% in February

In comparison with the same period last year, total retail sales (excluding automobiles and building materials) fell 5.1% in February. The data are from the report, conducted by MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse. The number is well below the 0.9% growth in the last four months, demonstrating the continuing decrease in consumer spending.
The North ( -3.6), South ( -1.1 percent), Midwest ( -4.5%) and Southeast ( -7.6) also showed a drop in sales, in comparative analysis with 2014. The Northeast region (+2.4) had above-average growth.
Two sectors, pharmacy and personal items, showed above average growth of total retail, while supermarkets, fuel, construction materials, furniture and electronics and clothing were below average sales.
Against the sector, e-commerce sales grew 4.2 percent in February in comparison with the same period last year. Online sales of furniture and clothing grew above average, while electronics sales were below the number of total sales.
In addition to the holiday of Carnival in February, the month had one working day less than in 2014, which reduced retail growth this year. However, the index of consumer confidence keeps falling, registering a decrease of 4.9% in February, which combined with inflationary pressures, they create a hostile environment for sales.