Washington, DC, July 14--Retail sales were up a seasonally adjusted 1.7 percent in June, on a rebound in automobile sales, according to the Commerce Department.
Automobile sales rose 4.8 percent during the month. Sales excluding autos were up 0.7 percent.
Economists were expecting a 1.0 percent in overall retail sales and a 0.6 percent increase in sales excluding automobiles.
May sales were revised to a drop of 0.3 percent compared with the initial estimate of a 0.5 percent gain.
In the past 12 month retail sales were up 9.6 percent. In the second quarter, retail sales rose 2.6 percent
Sales rose in nearly all sectors in June. Sales declined in only two subcategories, health-care stores and miscellaneous stores.
Building and hardware store sales improved by 0.2 percent, furniture sales rose 0.9 percent - the biggest gain this year - and sales a electronics and appliance stores rose 0.2 percent.
General merchandise store sales increased 1.2 percent. Within that category, department store sales increased 1.3 percent.
Sales at non-store outlets such as catalogs and online stores increased 1.7 percent.
