representative imagewashington jan 15 2021 the coronavirus pandemic upended shopping habits in the united states in 2020 government data showed friday pushing customers towards online outlets but keeping them away from restaurants and electronics stores the commerce department said us retail sales in the final month of 2020 were up only 29 percent from last year weaker than the 58 percent growth seen from december 2018 as stores across the worlds largest economy struggled with its massive covid19 outbreak monthonmonth sales also fell by a worsethanexpected 07 percent in december and novembers data was revised downwards as states again tightened restrictions on businesses as infections surged advt sales were much weaker than expected in december and declined for a third straight month overall spending is coming under pressure from restrictions that are resulting in job and income loss rubeela farooqi of high frequency economics said in an analysis excluding the volatile auto sector retail sales declined 14 percent from november and even for nonstore retailers like ecommerce sites which saw huge growth in 2020 sales dipped 58 percent the report caps a year that saw massive upheavals for businesses with some prospering but others slumping under the weight of the coronavirus nonstore retailers saw sales rise 192 percent in december from the end of 2019 and building materials and gardening equipment were up 170 percent grocery stores gained 89 percent last year as more people cooked at home and occasionally stockpiled while sporting goods hobby book and musical instrument stores saw sales jump 152 percent many other types of retailer suffered as the arrival of covid19 made shopping trips potentially perilous clothing and accessories stores were down 16 percent from december 2019 electronics stores lost 166 percent and food and drink outlets like the eateries which were among the first businesses shuttered when the virus arrived plunged 212 percent advt the virus also sunk oil prices pushing gasoline station sales down 122 percent in 2020 even with vaccines being rolled out and consumers receiving another round of stimulus checks from the government ian shepherdson of pantheon macroeconomics predicted retail sales werent set for a rebound until the virus is controlled we expect consumers spending to struggle until falling covid cases allow restrictions to be eased he said afp published on jan 16 2021 at 0820 am ist telegram facebook copy link be the first one to comment comment now comments comment now read comment 1 all comments post post find this comment offensive choose your reason below and click on the submit button this will alert our moderators to take actions reasons for reporting foul language defamatory inciting hatred against a certain community out of context spam others report join the community of 2m industry professionals subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights analysis download etretail app get realtime updates save your favourite articles scan to download app commerce department united states stores nonstore retailers washington homenewsindustryecommerce soars restaurants suffer as virus hits 2020 us retail sales