SmallBusinessNewz

June turned out not to be too bad a month for retailers, according to the National Retail Federation.  Compared to amounts exchanged during previous periods, spending didn't go down in so much as a single category the trade association named in a new release.

That's a sort of optimist's take for you, anyway.  If we're to look at the less bright side, it seems that spending didn't go up much, either (even before the numbers were adjusted).

The plain facts, as put by the NRF: "retail industry sales for June (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) rose 1.3 percent unadjusted over last year and increased 0.2 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month."

Food and beverage stores did best, netting a 0.7 percent gain seasonally adjusted from May.  General merchandise stores landed on the other side of the (listed) scale, with just a 0.4 percent increase in their corner.

Also, it's important to remember that these numbers were recorded not too long after consumers received their tax rebate checks.  Small businesses should keep up (and if possible, increase) whatever efforts they're making in order to ensure customers don't lock up their wallets.