Washington, DC — Grocery store sales totaled $46.6 billion in the month of September, and overall food and beverage stores sales totaled $51.9 billion, according to advance estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The numbers represent a one percent increase for grocery stores and a 1.2 percent increase for overall food and beverage stores.

When compared with September 2011, retail sales, excluding motor vehicles and parts, increased 4.8 percent, while food and beverage stores sales increased four percent. Grocery stores sales were up 3.8 percent from the same month last year.

Total September retail sales, excluding motor vehicles and parts, were up 1.1 percent compared with August, totaling $337 billion when adjusted for seasonal variations. This is more than was originally anticipated, the bureau reports.