Retail and food services sales for December, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $442.9 billion, a decrease of 0.9% from the previous month, but up 3.2% above December 2013. It was also below expected increase of 0.2%. Total sales for the 12 months of 2014 were up 4.0% from 2013. Total sales for the October through December 2014 period were up 4.1% from the same period a year ago.
Core Retail Sales also missed expectations on 0.1%, and decreased by 1.0%. Retail trade sales were down 1.1% from November 2014, but 2.6% above last year. Auto and other motor vehicle dealers were up 9.8% from December 2013 and food services and drinking places were up 8.2% from last year.
After the data USD was pushed lower. Euro is slightly below 1.1820 level, Sterling is few points above 1.5249 area, while Aussie is near 0.8160 level.