US retail sales edged higher in August, helped by gains in car sales, according to Commerce Department data released today.
Retail sales rose 0.2% in August, slightly below analysts' consensus estimate.
The July reading was revised up a tenth point to 0.7%. Motor vehicle and parts sales climbed 0.7%.
Excluding the motor sector, retail sales were up 0.1% last month.
There was a 1.8% fall in sales at petrol stations in August reflecting lower petrol prices, according to the data that is not adjusted for price changes.
Other businesses seeing weaker sales included building material and garden equipment stores and furniture and home furnishings retailers.
US consumers boosted their spending at grocery stores, restaurants and bars as the summer holiday season was winding down.
The retail sales report was one of the few remaining US data points ahead of the Federal Reserve's two-day monetary policy meeting that begins tomorrow.
Speculation is divided over whether the Fed will deem the economy strong enough to withstand the first rate hike since 2006.
Retail sales point to the health of consumer spending, which accounts for about two thirds of the US economy's output. But they are a smaller factor than spending on services, the bulk of the economy.
