Dec Retail Sales As-Expected At +0.3%,......>

US DATA: Dec Retail Sales As-Expected At +0.3%, Ex-MV +0.7%

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- Dec sales +0.3% vs +0.3% BBG; ex-mtr veh +0.7% vs +0.5% BBG

- Dec sales ex. mtr veh and gas +0.5; ex. auto, bldg, gas +0.4%

- Vehicle sales -1.3%; largest decline since Jan 2019 (-2.0)

- Gas station sales +2.8%; highest since March (+3.3%), ex. only gas +0.1% 

- Clothing and accessories stores +1.6%; highest since March (+2.1%)

- Food services +0.2%; highest since September (+0.8%)

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December headline retail sales were in-line with expectations, posting 

a 0.3% increase after rising by the same amount in November. Gasoline 

station sales rose by 2.8% in December, the largest increase since 

March. Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales increased 0.7%, above 

market expectations for a 0.5% gain and after a flat reading in 

November. Motor vehicle and parts sales dropped 1.3% in December, the 

largest decline since January of last year. Sales of autos and other 

motor vehicles also fell 1.3% in December. Excluding motor vehicles and 

gas, retail sales rose 0.5%, surpassing expectations for a 0.4% and 

rebounding from a 0.2% decline in November. Clothing and accessories 

store sales posted a 1.6% inrease, the highest since March, and building 

materials rose 1.4%, the highest since August.