Total retail sales rise 0.77% in November, according to CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor

The holiday shopping season got off to a good start in November.

That’s according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, which reported that retail sales — excluding automobiles and gasoline but including restaurants— rose  0.77% month over month and were up 4.24% year over year in November. That compared with a month-over-month decrease of 0.08% and a year-over-year increase of 2.57% in October.

The Retail Monitor calculation of core retail sales — excluding restaurants in addition to autos and gas — showed increases of 0.73% month-over-month and 4.17% year-over-year in November. That compared with a month-over-month decrease of 0.03% and a year-over-year increase of 2.63% in October.

The Retail Monitor, which was launched in November, uses actual credit and debit card purchase data compiled by Affinity Solutions and does not need to be revised monthly or annually. 

The results come as NRF is predicting that holiday retail sales from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31 – excluding autos, gas and restaurants – will increase between 3% and 4% over 2022 to a record total of between $957.3 billion and $966.6 billion.

November sales were up in all but two categories — building/garden supply stores and home furnishing stores — on a monthly basis

Specifics from key sectors include:

•Online and other non-store sales were up 0.8% month-over-month seasonally adjusted and up 26.27% year over year unadjusted.

•Health and personal care stores were up 1.6% month-over-month seasonally adjusted and up 9.15% year over year unadjusted.

•Sporting goods, hobby, music and book stores were up 1% month-over-month seasonally adjusted and up 8.25% year over year unadjusted.

•Clothing and accessories stores were up 0.87% month-over-month and up 5.81% year over year unadjusted.

•Grocery and beverage stores were up 0.84% month-over-month and up 3.19% year over year unadjusted.

•Electronics and appliance stores were up 0.1% month-over-month seasonally adjusted and also up 0.1% year over year unadjusted.

•General merchandise stores were up 1.03% month-over-month seasonally adjusted and up 0.61% year over year unadjusted.

•Building and garden supply stores were down 1.16% month-over-month and down 0.06% year over year unadjusted.

•Furniture and home furnishings stores were down 0.04% month-over-month seasonally adjusted and down 2.08% year over year unadjusted.