US retail sales in December 2011, up 0.1%, was the slowest rate of growth in the last seven months. Year on year sales were up 6.5%.

The 0.1% increase in December was disappointing when compared to a 0.4% increase in November. The slow rate of growth was reflected by an increase in savings, despite high hopes for the December shopping season.

However the year 2011 represented the strongest year for US retailers since 1999, according to the US commerce department. Electronic sales were the main victims in December and showed the biggest decrease since March 1999. The first week of January continued the downward trend as sales dropped 5.4%…

US retail sales have increased for the fifth consecutive month up to October 2011. Sales in October were up 0.5% when compared to September and the first 10 months of the year saw an improvement of 7.2% when compared to the same period last year.

Core sales in October, which exclude vehicle sales, showed a 0.7% gain, and is the biggest gain since March 2011.

In 2010, Irish exporting firms exported goods and services to the value of €161 billion to the US  making the US Ireland’s largest export market. Any rise in US retail sales is potentially very good news for Irish shippers and Exporting firms.

Retail sales in the US rose by 1% in September, which is the biggest increase since February, according to the US Commerce Department. Part of this rise was due to an increase in the spend on retail goods of 0.3% and a further overall increase in retail sales of 0.8% is predicted for September.

This is good news for Irish exporters to the US as it is the first pick up in overall demand since February 2011.Consumer spending accounts for roughly 70% of economic activity in the USA so any upturn in this regard is extremely welcome from a global trade viewpoint.