Excluding Autos, Retail Sales Rise Again in September

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that U.S. retail sales declined 0.2% in September, the first drop since April, but excluding autos, sales rose for a fifth straight month.

Commerce also said that total retail sales were up 1.2% in August, double the figure originally reported. Retail sales were up 1.4% in July.

Almost all trucking operations depend on the health of retail sales because such sales involve nearly every type of cargo. Consumer spending accounts for two-thirds of all economic activity.

Although sales at automobile dealerships and parts stores declined 1.6% in September, purchases at retailers, excluding auto dealers, increased 0.3% to $244 billion, Commerce said.

The report found that sales at general merchandise stores, which include department stores, rose 0.3% and sales at clothing and accessory stores rose 1.4%.

Sales of electronics, furniture and sporting goods decreased, but sales at food and beverage stores rose 0.3%. Receipts at gasoline service stations also increased 0.3% last month following a 3.5% rise in August.

Compared with September of last year, retail sales were up 7.5%, the largest 12-month gain since April 2000.

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