Retail Sales in U.S. Climb Excluding Auto Dealers

Sales at most types of retailers, from electronics stores to restaurants, climbed in September, indicating households were sustaining the U.S. economic expansion before the government shutdown shook confidence.

Purchases excluding auto dealers rose 0.4 percent following a 0.1 percent gain the prior month, matching the median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. Total sales dropped 0.1 percent because car purchases over the Labor Day holiday weekend were counted in the figures for August.