Washington, DC — Grocery stores sales totaled $47.3 billion in the month of August, and overall food and beverage stores sales totaled $52.8 billion, according to advance estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Both represent a zero percent increase from the month prior.

Compared with August 2011, retail sales, excluding motor vehicles and parts, increased 3.4 percent, while food and beverage stores sales increased 2.3 percent. Grocery stores sales were up 2.1 percent from the same month last year.

Total August retail sales, excluding motor vehicles and parts, were up 0.8 percent compared with July, totaling $332.5 billion when adjusted for seasonal variations.