Retail Sales Post Huge Downward Surprise; Lower GDP Revisions Coming Up; Economists Easy to Surprise

So much for those allegedly strong Christmas sales. In fact, sales of nearly everything were down in today's Commerce Department Retail Sales Report for December 2014.

Retail sales were down 0.9% compared to November vs. economist expectations of a 0.1% decrease. November was revised from +0.7 percent to +0.4 percent.

Retail Sales vs. November



Month-over-month retail sales, autos, general merchandise, and ex-auto sales are all lower.

The report shows store retailers down 1.9%, building materials & garden supplies down 1.9%, electronics & appliance stores down 1.6%, motor vehicles and parts down 0.7%, and general merchandise down 0.9%.

Food services and drinking was up 0.8%. Home furnishings posted a 0.8% gain as well. Gasoline was down 14.2%.

Retail Sales vs. December 2013



Take a good look at autos, one of the key drivers of overall sales growth for the past year.

Commerce reports "auto and other motor vehicle dealers were up 9.8 percent from December 2013, and food services and drinking places were up 8.2 percent from last year."

Economists Upbeat Despite Factory Orders

Once again economists were surprised when they should not have been.

Please consider a few snips from my January 6, 2015 report Economists Upbeat Despite 4th Consecutive Decline in Factory Orders; Auto Orders vs. Expectations.

Economists are among the most optimistic groups on the planet. Year in, year out they project improvements in growth.

So today, despite 4th Consecutive Decline in Factory Orders, it's no surprise that economists remain optimistic.

Auto Orders vs. Expectations

Automobiles orders down 2.0% and heavy duty trucks down 4.4% are standouts. Those numbers suggest the auto party is over or will soon be.

I have a simple question: Who wants a car, needs a car, can afford a car, and does not have a car? Subprime auto loans are a key reason car sales were as robust as they have been.

Nonetheless "Auto sales are expected to reach their highest level in a decade this year, bolstered by strong job gains and cheap gas."

Economists Easy to Surprise

The factory order evidence was right there, staring economists in the face, but they could not see it.

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!



Link if video does not play: Gomer Pyle on Surprises.

Hmm. What happened to the theory that consumers would take gas money and spend it on everything else? At best, they drank some of it. 

I have a strong suspicion the recovery is finally over and that 2015 will mightily surprise economists to the downside. If so, it's fitting the party would end on the recent upward GDP revisions.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com