OREANDA-NEWS. Retail sales in the United Stated decreased by 8.7 % in March this year in comparison with the previous month due to the effects of the coronavirus epidemic. This is evidenced by preliminary statistics published on April 15 on the website of the US Department of Commerce.

According to the agency, the volume of retail trade and public catering in the USA amounted to 483.1 billion dollars, it is 8.7 % less than in February and 6.2 % less than in March 2019. The monthly decline was the largest since the start of such statistics in 1992.

Sales of clothes decreased most of all, by 50.5 %. They are followed by furniture (minus 26.8 %), prepared food and drinks in restaurants (minus 26.5 %), cars and spare parts (minus 25.6 %), sporting goods, musical instruments and books (minus 23.3 %), motor fuel (minus 17.2 %), electronics and household appliances (minus 15.1 %). On the contrary, retail sales of food and beverages in stores and hygiene goods increased (by 25.6 % and 4.3%, respectively).