–Sales Excluding Both Motor Vehicles And Gas Up 0.1%; Gasoline +0.3%
By Kevin Kastner
WASHINGTON (MNI) – Retail sales at U.S. stores were virtually flat
in August, as motor vehicle sales declined and sales excluding motor
vehicles posted a soft 0.1% rise in the month, data released Wednesday
morning by the U.S. Commerce Department showed.
In addition, the sales gains in the previous two months were also
revised lower.
Motor vehicle sales fell 0.3% in the month after a 0.2% rise in
July, while gasoline station sales were rose 0.3% in August after the
0.9% July surge. Excluding those two key factors, retail sales would
have been up 0.1% in August.
Sales gains were mixed across the remaining categories, with gains
in sales for grocery stores and nonstore retailer, and large 2.4% jump
in the relatively small sporting goods category. These were offset by
declines in sales at food services and drinking places and at clothing
stores, department stores, and furniture stores.
Retail sales were up 8.4% from a year ago, before seasonal
adjustment, a stronger pace than the 6.3% year/year rise for total sales
in July. Sales excluding motor vehicles rose 8.2% year/year in August,
faster than the 6.8% rise in July.
** Market News International Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 **
[TOPICS: MAUDS$,MT$$$$,M$U$$$,MAUDR$]
