Washington, October 15—Retail sales rose 1.5 percent in September, the most in six months, led by spending on automobiles and general merchandise.
The biggest rise in receipts at automobile dealerships since October 2001 paced the increase in all retail spending last month, which followed a revised 0.2 percent decrease in August, the Commerce Department said in Washington. Excluding autos, sales rose 0.6 percent, twice the expected rate, after rising 0.2 percent in August.
Economists expected retail sales would rise 0.7 percent last month after a previously reported drop of 0.3 percent in August, based on the median forecast of 72 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey. Sales excluding automobiles were expected to rise 0.3 percent after rising 0.2 percent in August.
Sales at automobile dealerships and parts stores rose 4.2 percent last month after falling 1.3 percent. Sales of cars and light trucks jumped to 17.5 million vehicles at an annual rate in September, a 5.4 percent increase from August, according to industry figures released Oct. 1. Auto sales last quarter were the strongest in a year.
Sales at general merchandise stores, which include department stores, rose 1.1 percent last month, the most since February, after falling 0.3 percent in August. Sales at clothing and accessory stores rose 0.8 percent after dropping 0.7 percent. Department stores sold 0.9 percent more merchandise than the month before.
Sales at electronics and appliance stores rose 0.5 percent, while furniture sales fell 0.4 percent. Purchases at sporting goods, hobby, book and music outlets decreased 0.4 percent while sales at food and beverage stores rose 0.5 percent. Sales at restaurants and drinking places rose 0.7 percent after dropping 0.5 percent a month earlier.
Sales at building material and garden supply stores rose 1.4 percent, the most in six months, after a 0.7 percent increase in August. The jump may be due to purchases to brace for the three hurricanes that hit the southeastern U.S. last month, and to make repairs afterward, according to economists.
