Total sales came in at $626.8 billion last month, down 1.9% from what was expected to be flat.
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Retail sales in the United States fell sharply in December compared to November, disappointing analysts, after two good months thanks to end-of-year purchases widely anticipated for fear of long delivery times.
Total sales were $626.8 billion last month, down 1.9%, according to data released by the Commerce Department on Friday. They were expected stable compared to last month, according to a consensus of analysts.
These sales are however 16.9% higher than those of December 2020.
For the whole of 2021, retail sales climbed 19.3% compared to 2020.
The shortages and delays in deliveries panicked American consumers, who bought their Christmas gifts well in advance.
But in total, over the three months from October to December, which correspond to these purchases, sales were 17.1% higher than those of the same three months last year.
The total amount of sales was, however, inflated by inflation, which in 2021 reached its fastest pace since 1982, at 7%.
An even more marked phenomenon for gasoline sales, the price of which soared last year. In December alone, service stations saw their sales increase by 41% compared to December 2020.
Sales for the month of November were a little worse than expected, the data has been revised, up 0.2% instead of 0.3%.
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