US retail sales rose 5.3% year over year in August, with movie theaters leading the gains, according to Colliers. Sales climbed 69.9% at AMC and 61.8% at Regal, while the number of items sold rose 1.7%; Colliers said the gap reflected inflation.
The movie industry grossed $4.8 billion from May through August, its highest total for that period in 13 years. Spider-Man: Brand New Day led the summer box office with $923.5 million, making it the highest-grossing summer movie in history.
Electronics sales increased 7.9% in August and home-improvement sales rose 5.2%. Colliers said those big-ticket categories grew despite household budget pressures; it also listed Crunch Fitness, Five Below, Ross, Trader Joe’s and Hobby Lobby among retailers with gains.
