US retail sales fell for the first time in three months compared to the previous month, a sustained recovery after the government's cash benefits to households, which have supported consumer spending, have diminished. Is also likely to be an issue.
Last month's US retail sales, announced by the U.S. Department of Commerce on the 15th, were $ 620.2 billion, or about 68 trillion yen in Japanese yen, down 1.3% from the previous month, the first decrease in three months. It was.
Breaking it down, "clothes / accessories" increased by 3.0% and "food and drink / bars" increased by 1.8%, but "automobiles" decreased by 3.7%, and it is thought that the impact of semiconductor shortages also appeared.
Retail sales hit record highs in March and April, respectively, backed by the Biden administration's cash benefits of up to ¥ 150,000 per person, but declined last month.
In the United States, economic activity is becoming more active due to the spread of vaccines, but in the future, the sustainable recovery of personal consumption after the effect of the government's cash benefits has diminished is likely to be an issue.
On the other hand, the wholesale prices of companies last month, which show the price trends of raw materials such as wood and steel announced on the same day, increased by 6.6% compared to the same month of the previous year, which is comparable in November 2010. Since then, it has recorded the largest growth, and the US economy is showing a marked upward trend in prices due to the economic recovery.