The U.S. Census Bureau released its monthly retail sales report on Tuesday, indicating that sales for July (adusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes), were up 0.8% from June, and up 4.1% from the July 2011. Sales reached $403.9 billion for the month.

Also noteworthy is that total sales for the May through July period were up 4.3% from the same period last year.

Retail trade sales were up 0.8% from June and 3.7% from last year. Nonstore retailers sales were up 11.8% from last year. Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores were up 10.6% from last year.

Retail sales were better than most economist projected. It looks like people are ready to spend more money (and the new iPhone doesn’t even come out until next month).

The Census Bureau will put out its report for August on September 14.