U.S. Retail Sales Increase in August

U.S. retail sales rose 0.4 percent in August, in part thanks to new auto and building supplies purchases, according to MarketWatch. Restaurants, department stores and clothing retailers posted sales down around one percent, and grocery and home furnishing stores also saw a decline. 

“The slowdown in retail sales for August was expected after the stronger gains in July,” said David Berson, Nationwide Chief Economist.