Retail Sales Rise Higher Than Expected In August, Marks Third Consecutive Month Of Gains

U.S. retail sales rose higher than expected in August, marking the third consecutive month of gains amid President Donald Trump’s tariffs, leading to an increase in the prices of some products.

The value of retail purchases, before adjusting for inflation, increased 0.6% in August compared to July, according to MarketWatch, which is higher than the Dow Jones estimate of 0.3%.

According to data from the U.S. Commerce Department, nine of the 13 categories registered an increase during August, with online retailers, clothing stores, and sporting goods leading the gains. Excluding auto and gasoline, retail sales grew 0.7% in August. On an annual basis, retail sales rose 5%.

However, miscellaneous store retailers, furniture stores, general merchandise stores, and health and personal care stores registered declines during the month.

Earlier this month, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report showed that prices rose 2.9% annually in August, in line with expectations. The index for shelter rose 0.4% in August, and was the primary reason for the increase in the all-items basket during the month. The food index also rose 0.5%, while the energy index increased by 0.7%, driven by a 1.9% rise in the gasoline index.

Meanwhile, U.S. equities declined in Tuesday’s opening trade. At the time of writing, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), which tracks the S&P 500 index, was down  0.17%, while the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) declined 0.09%. Retail sentiment around the S&P 500 ETF on Stocktwits was in the ‘bullish’ territory.

Also See: Bessent Says Trump’s Willingness To Shut Down TikTok In US Pushed China To Make A Deal: Report

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