US: Advance retail sales were $507.5 billion in July, up 0.5% from June vs. 0.1% expected

"Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for July 2018, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $507.5 billion, an increase of 0.5 percent from the previous month, and 6.4 percent above July 2017," the U.S. Census Bureau announced on Wednesday.

Key takeaways from the official publication

• Total sales for the May 2018 through July 2018 period were up 6.3 percent from the same period a year ago.
• The May 2018 to June 2018 percent change was revised from up 0.5 percent to up 0.2 percent.
• Retail trade sales were up 0.4 percent from June 2018, and 6.0 percent above last year.
• Gasoline Stations were up 22.2 percent from July 2017, while Nonstore Retailers were up 8.7 percent from last year.