Retail Sales Rise 1.8% in July; Gain Is Less Than Expected

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etail sales rose 1.8% in July from the previous month, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

The gain fell short of the 2.1% increase predicted by economists for the month, Bloomberg reported. The increase followed a 1.7% gain in June.

Almost all trucking operations depend on the health of retail sales because such sales involve nearly every type of cargo.

Sales at automobile dealerships and auto parts stores rose 6.7%, the biggest gain since October 200, after rising 4.6% in June. Sales at filling stations rose 2.4%, after a 2% increase a month earlier.

Sales at general merchandise stores, including department stores, were unchanged for July, after a 1.3% increase the previous month.

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