Washington, September 14--Retail sales fell 0.3% in August according to the Commerce Department. The decline followed a 0.8 percent increase in July, which was stronger than first reported.
Excluding vehicles, sales rose 0.2 percent in August after rising 0.3 percent a month earlier.
Economists were expecting sales in August to drop 0.1 percent, after a previously reported increase of 0.7 percent in July. Sales excluding automobiles were expected to rise 0.2 percent after an initially reported increase of 0.2 percent the month before.
Sales at automobile dealerships and parts stores fell 1.9 percent last month after rising 2.2 percent in July.
Sales at building material and garden supply stores rose 0.4 percent last month after a 0.6 percent drop in July.
Furniture sales fell 0.9 percent after rising 2 percent the month before. Sales at general merchandise stores, which include department stores, dropped 0.4 percent last month after rising 0.8 percent in July. Department store sales fell 0.8 percent. Sales at clothing and accessory stores declined 1.4 percent after increasing 0.2 percent.
Sales at electronics and appliance stores rose 0.1 percent in August after a 0.4 percent rise in July.
Nonstore retail sales, which include Internet purchases, increased 1.7 percent after a 1.3 percent rise.
