Retail Sales Jump 1.4% in July

.S. retail sales jumped 1.4% in July, the largest increase in six months, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

ales excluding automobiles rose 1%, Commerce said.

The increase, which followed a 0.1% uptick in June, doubled economists’ forecast of a 0.5% rise.

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

Retail sales account for almost half of all consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of the economy.