U.S. retail sales see boost in April

WASHINGTON U.S. retail and food services sales had a near 9% boost in April, compared with the year-ago period, the Census Bureau revealed Friday in a new report.

Total sales were $366.4 billion, a 0.4% increase from March and an 8.8% increase from the year-ago period. Total sales for the February through April 2010 period were up 7.3% (±0.3%) from the same period a year ago.

In the pharmacies and drug stores sector, the Census Bureau said sales stayed in the $18 million range for the month, citing that the agency did not have "sufficient statistical evidence to conclude that the actual change is different than zero." In March 2010, total sales were $18.42 million. The estimate was adjusted for seasonal variations and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes.

Meanwhile, health and personal care stores sales were nearly $21.9 million for the month and alost $86 million for a four-month period, a 2.9% increase from the same period last year. For this estimate, the total was not adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday and trading-day differences and price changes.