US retail sales down by 0.2% in January

Retail and food services sales in the United States decreased by 0.2% in January compared to last month's figures, landing at $733.5 billion, the US Census Bureau revealed in its report published on Friday. Meanwhile, the January figure increased by 3.2% compared with the corresponding month in 2025. Total sales for the period of three months since November 2025 were up by 2.9% year-on-year. Nonstore retailers rose by 10.9% compared to 2025, while the food service and drinking places increased by 3.9% year-on-year.