US retail sales rise 0.2pc in September

(Sharecast News) - US retail sales rose just 0.2% in September, according to the Census Bureau, the weakest monthly increase in four months and below forecasts for a 0.4% gain. Retail and food services sales climbed to $733.3bn, following a 0.6% rise in August, with sales strongest at miscellaneous store retailers, up 2.9%, and at gasoline stations, which rose 2%.

Gains were also recorded at health and personal care stores, which increased 1.1%, food services and drinking places, which rose 0.7%, furniture outlets, which gained 0.6%, and food and beverage stores, which edged up 0.2%.

By contrast, sales fell at sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and book stores, were down 2.5%, while clothing retailers and non-store retailers both slipped 0.7%, and electronics and appliance stores declined 0.5%.

Sales excluding food services, auto dealers, building materials and gasoline stations, the control group used in GDP calculations, fell 0.1% in September, compared with a 0.6% rise in August and expectations for a 0.3% increase.







Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com