US retail sales rise in August on auto sales
Source: AP-Excite
By JOSH BOAK
WASHINGTON (AP) — Auto buying drove U.S. retail sales higher in August, a possible sign that job growth in recent months has led to accelerated consumer spending.
The Commerce Department said Friday that seasonally adjusted retail sales rose 0.6 percent compared with the prior month. Sales are up 5 percent in the past 12 months. July sales were also revised upward from flat to a 0.3 percent increase.
Motor vehicles accounted for roughly half of the August increase. Buying also picked up at restaurants and for furniture, electronics, sporting goods and building materials.
Those gains were partially offset by falling sales at gasoline stations and department stores.
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In this Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014 photo, a woman passes an active wear display at a J.C. Penney store, in New York. The Commerce Department releases retail sales data for August on Friday, Sept. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
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