During the last month of this year's summer, America unexpectedly recorded an increase in retail trade volumes, when economists expected this indicator to fall.
Compared to July, retail sales in this country grew by 0.1 percent, when a fall of 0.2 percent was forecast. A month before, this indicator grew by as much as 1.1 percent.
The biggest increases in sales in August were at general stores (1.7 percent), online stores (1.4 percent), health and personal care stores (0.7 percent), and sales at sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, and bookstores also grew. (0.1 percent).
On the other hand, U.S. retail sales declined at gas stations (1.2 percent), electronics and appliance stores (1.1 percent), food and beverage (0.7 percent), furniture (0.7 percent), clothing (0.7 percent ) and general goods stores (0.3 percent), while sales of motor vehicles and their parts fell by 0.1 percent.
Core retail sales, which exclude food services, auto dealers, hardware stores and gas stations, which measure gross domestic product, rose 0.3 percent, in line with expectations. In July, this indicator rose by 0.4 percent. Annual growth in retail sales in America slowed from 2.9 percent to 2.1 percent in August.