The U.S. Census Bureau announced that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for October, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $411.6 billion, a decrease of 0.3% from the previous month, but 3.8% above October 2011.

Total sales for the August through October 2012 period were up 4.7% from the same period a year ago. The August to September 2012 percent change was revised from 1.1% to 1.3%.

Retail trade sales were down 0.3% from September 2012, but 3.8 % above last year. Gasoline stations sales were up 7.7% from October 2011 and non-store retailers were up 7.2% from last year.

Read the entire U.S. Census Bureau report.