US retail sales up 1.1% in September

US retail sales grew by 1.1 percent in September from the previous month, helped by brisk sales of automobiles and related goods.

The Commerce Department reported on Friday that retail sales totaled 395.5 billion dollars in September.

That largely exceeded the market forecast of an increase of about 0.6 percent.

By industry, sales of automobiles and auto-related goods increased by 3.6 percent, and clothing sales rose by 1.3 percent. Department stores and discount shops logged a 0.7 percent rise, and gasoline sales were up by 1.2 percent.

While the stagnant job situation is intensifying concerns about the outlook of the US economy, personal consumption will be closely watched as another key factor.

Saturday, October 15, 2011 02:45 +0900 (JST)