RETAIL SALES 01-04/2015

The year before a presidential election (such as 2015 is) usually a positive year for the stock markets.  This year, however, is not so good from the start.  You will note in the April figure (on top below), gas station revenues is the second from worst category.*  But the question is how important is gasoline station revenues to the total retail revenues?


This can be seen in the following figure.  Gasoline station revenues comes in 6th among the various categories, ahead of Health Care, Electrical Appliances, Furniture, and Miscellaneous.*




                                
I find the categories to be rather confusing.  For example, what is the difference between Food and Drinking Places or Food and Beverages and does beverages include soda?)?   I suppose the former includes places like restaurants and the latter retail stores like grocery stores and liquor stores.  I suppose a Nonstore Retailer would be on-line places like Amazon.com.

* http://www.cnbc.com/id/102675509 (Source: Commerce Dept., seasonally adjusted)