US retail sales increased 0.1% in September, compared to an expected 0.6% increase

Last month, auto sales climbed 0.8% after a 0.5% decline in August. Service station receipts declined 0.8%, likely reflecting a moderation in gas prices.

Clothing store sales rebounded 0.5% after falling 2.8% in August. Online and mail order sales jumped 1.1% in September after rising 0.5% the month before.

Furniture store revenue increased 1.1%. But Americans cut spending on restaurants and bars, as their sales dropped 1.8%. This was the biggest decline since December 2016.

Although the Commerce Department stated that it was impossible to determine the impact of Hurricane Florence on the data, the disturbances caused by the storm could have hurt sales in restaurants and bars last month.

Sales at building material stores increased 0.1% in September. Spending at hobby, musical instrument and bookstore stores rose 0.7% last month.