Retail Sales Inch Up

 

Led by auto sales, total retail sales rose 0.6 percent last month to $380.2 billion, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

Excluding auto sales, which jumped by 1.2 percent, retail sales rose a modest 0.4 percent from August, a 4.2 percent increase over the same period last year.

Furniture, clothing, and electronics stores reported gains last month, while building material suppliers reported declines.

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