Through June 30, 2018. Data are seasonally adjusted and include automobiles and gasoline. Source: US Census Bureau/Haver Analytics

Total seasonally-adjusted retail sales increased by 6.4% year over year in June, according to the US Census Bureau. Retail sales increased by 0.3% month over month in June on a seasonally adjusted basis. Some 12 out of 13 major sectors posted positive sales results compared with June last year, while only sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and book stores registered negative results. Year over year, sales increased by 21.6% at gasoline stations, 10.2% at nonstore retailers and 6.7% each at miscellaneous store retailers and health and personal care stores.

In-Store Metrics

Conv. = conversion rate, ATV = average transaction value, SY = shopper yield, Tran. = number of transactions and % Return = percentage of goods returned to stores. Source: RetailNext

Store-based sales and traffic declined in June, while conversion rate and average transaction value were positive with return rate metrics remaining flat, according to RetailNext.

• Retail traffic declined by 5% year over year in June.
• The average in-store transaction value increased by 1.1% year over year and the number of transactions decreased by 4.1%.
• The conversion rate remained positive year over year for the third consecutive month in June, rising by 0.1%.

All geographic regions posted sales and traffic declines in June versus the same period last year. The Northeast experienced the largest year-over-year sales decline of all regions, with sales down 8.2%, while the South reported the smallest decline, with sales down 1.9%.