US Retail Sales Decline for a Second Month on Fuel, Autos
- Value of purchases dropped 1% but details were more mixed
- Excluding gasoline and vehicles, sales fell less than forecast
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US retail sales fell for a second month in March, indicating household spending is cooling as Americans face high inflation and rising borrowing costs.
The value of overall retail purchases dropped 1% after an upwardly revised 0.2% decrease in February, Commerce Department data showed Friday. Excluding gasoline and autos, sales fell 0.3%, a smaller decline than forecast. The figures aren’t adjusted for inflation.