August Retail Sales Flat as Consumer Spending Stalls

Retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) in August increased 0.1 percent seasonally adjusted over July and 6 percent unadjusted year-over-year, according to the monthly survey by the National Retail Federation, a retail trade association. The NRF results are in line with data released by the U.S. Commerce Department that shows total retail sales (which