Submitted by Fox First at Ten on September 14th
By The Associated Press
HIGHER SALES: U.S. retail sales rose in August from July, mostly because consumers paid higher gas prices and bought more cars and trucks. Retail sales increased a seasonally adjusted 0.9 percent, the Commerce Department said Friday.
OTHER SALES TEPID: Outside autos and gas, sales rose only 0.1 percent. That's below July's 0.8 percent gain. Sales at general merchandise, clothing and electronic stores fell. Sales at grocery stores, sporting goods stores and online retailers were unchanged.
WEAK GROWTH: The data showed that high unemployment and meager wage gains are limiting consumers' willingness to spend. That, in turn, is dragging on the economy.
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