California Business Minute™

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Hi, I am Tim Johnson and welcome to the California Business Minute.

The U.S. Census Bureau announced advance estimates of U.S. retail and food
services sales for September, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday
and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $344.7 billion,
an decrease of 1.5 percent (±0.5%) from the previous month, and a 5.7 percent
decrease (±0.7%) below September 2009.

And although sales grew in August, data shows that retail sales dropped by
6.6 percent from July through September of this year.

Key areas where declines were seen- gas stations sales were down 23 percent
and building materials and garden supply dealers were down 13 percent over
the year.

Areas that saw increases included food and beverage stores both up over the year
and month along with health & personal care stores such as pharmacies and drug
stores.

I am Tim Johnson and this has been the California Business Minute.