Economics
Retail Sales in U.S. Decline in August by More Than Forecast
- Drop is first in five months; sales excluding autos also fall
- Any sustained weakness could limit rebound in economic growth
Why the Decline in U.S. Retail Sales Is Worrisome
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Sales at U.S. retailers dropped more than forecast in August, indicating a pause in recent consumer-spending strength that has carried the economy.
Purchases declined 0.3 percent from July, the first drop in five months, after a revised 0.1 percent advance in the previous month, Commerce Department figures showed Thursday in Washington. The median projection of economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a 0.1 percent decline. Excluding cars, sales unexpectedly fell 0.1 percent.