Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for August 2018, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $509.0 billion, an increase of 0.1 percent from the previous month, and 6.6 percent above August 2017.

Total sales for the June 2018 through August 2018 period were up 6.5 percent from the same period a year ago. The June 2018 to July 2018 percent change was revised from up 0.5 percent (±0.4 percent) to up 0.7 percent.

Retail trade sales were up 0.1 percent from July 2018, and 6.2 percent (±0.5 percent) above last year. Gasoline Stations were up 20.3 percent from August 2017, while Nonstore Retailers were up 10.4 percent (±1.4 percent) from last year.