U.S. food and retail edge up

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Census Bureau announced that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for April, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $434.6 billion, an increase of 0.1% from the previous month, and 4.0% above April 2013. Total sales for the February 2014 through April 2014 period were up 3.3% from the same period a year ago. The February 2014 to March 2014 percent change was revised from +1.2% to +1.5%. Retail trade sales were up 0.2% from March 2014, and 4.2% above last year. Auto and other motor vehicle dealers were up 10.5% from April 2013 and non-store retailers were up 6.5% from last year.