Retail Commodity Survey, October 2021
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Released: 2022-01-10
Retail sales reached $59.0 billion in October, an increase of 3.6% compared with the same month a year earlier. Higher sales were reported in 10 of the 19 commodity classes.
The advance estimate provided by the Monthly Retail Trade Survey suggests that unadjusted total retail sales in November increased by 7.5%. Because of its preliminary nature, this figure will be revised.
Automotive fuel sales continue to drive retail spending
The largest increase in dollar terms came from sales of automotive and household fuels, which rose 40.6% compared with the same month in 2020, marking the commodity class's eighth consecutive sales increase. With higher prices at the pump, sales of automotive fuels continued to exceed pre-pandemic levels, up 11.6% compared with October 2019.
Sales of motor vehicles fell 1.0% in October, the class's second consecutive year-over-year decline. With supply chain issues restricting the production of new vehicles, sales of new motor vehicles declined 9.9%, driven by falling sales of minivans, sport utility vehicles and light trucks (-10.5%). With limited new vehicle inventory, sales of used motor vehicles (+15.4%) continued to rise, the subclass's eighth consecutive year-over-year increase. Higher sales of used minivans, sport utility vehicles and light trucks (+18.1%) were the largest contributor to this gain.
With restrictions on in-person dining in restaurants being lifted in many regions across the country, sales of food fell $2.0 million in October. The largest decrease in this class was fresh food (-0.6%), with lower sales of fresh fruit and vegetables (-3.9%) and fresh meat and poultry (-1.6%) accounting for the bulk of the decline. With Halloween in 2021 not being as limited by public health restrictions as in 2020, sales of cookies, confectionery and snack foods posted a 4.5% increase. Sales of soft drinks and alcoholic beverages recorded a 3.5% increase in October 2021 compared with the previous year, led by higher sales of alcoholic beverages (+3.3%).
Sales of consumer non-durables continue to grow
Retail sales of clothing (+14.7%) remained strong in October, the commodity class's second consecutive year-over-year increase. Sales gains were recorded in every subclass, the largest of which were for women's clothing (+11.8%) and men's clothing (+19.0%). Sales of footwear continued to increase in October 2021, rising 12.9% from a year earlier.
Stronger sales were also seen in the sporting and leisure products class (+6.2%), with the subclasses of sporting equipment (+4.5%) and toys and games (+12.0%) accounting for the majority of the gain.
Note to readers
The Retail Commodity Survey collects national-level retail sales data, by commodity, from the same businesses surveyed in the Monthly Retail Trade Survey. No data have been seasonally adjusted. All percentage changes are year over year.
New retail commodity data for e-commerce now available
Estimates from the Retail Commodity Survey are now available for the electronic shopping and mail-order houses industry (North American Industry Classification System [NAICS] code 454110).
E-commerce figures from brick-and-mortar retailers are included with the retailer's commodity sales. If the online operations of a brick-and-mortar retailer are separately managed, they are classified under NAICS code 45411 (electronic shopping and mail-order houses). Businesses commonly referred to as pure-play Internet retailers are also classified under NAICS code 45411. Total retail sales figures do not include sales from retailers classified under NAICS code 45411.
Find more statistics on retail trade.
Contact information
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