Retail sales rose 1.2 per cent in July from the previous month, the US Commerce Department said.
The rise in July retail sales was slightly larger than expected. The consensus forecast of Wall Street economists was for retail sales to rise 1 per cent.
In June, overall retail sales were revised to a 1.4 per cent rise, up from the earlier estimate that sales were up 1.0 per cent. The rise in sales in July was led by higher vehicle and gasoline demand. Excluding vehicles, retail sales were up 0.2 per cent in July, in line with expectations. Year-on-year, retail sales in July were up 4.8 per cent.
Sales excluding vehicle were revised to 0.5 in June, up from the initial estimate of a 0.4 per cent rise. Excluding gasoline, retail and food sales were up 1.1 per cent in the month.
So called "core" retail sales, or sales excluding vehicles and gasoline, were flat in July after rising 0.6 per cent in June.
AFP