Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for October 2018, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $511.5 billion, an increase of 0.8 percent from the previous month, and 4.6 percent above October 2017.

Total sales for the August 2018 through October 2018 period were up 5.0 percent from the same period a year ago. The August 2018 to September 2018 percent change was revised from up 0.1 percent to down 0.1 percent. Retail trade sales were up 0.9 percent from September 2018, and 4.3 percent above last year. Gasoline Stations were up 16.2 percent from October 2017, while Nonstore Retailers were also up 12.1 percent (±1.4 percent) from last year.