WASHINGTON — When the going gets tough, the tough don't go shopping.
The continuing economic slowdown and less demand for automobiles caused retail sales to fall .1% in July, the Commerce Department reported today.
Total retail and fuel sales were $346.7 billion in July. While that was a decline from June, it was an increase of 2.6% above July 2007.
This July's numbers showed a 2.4% drop in automobile sales and a .4% rise in all other types of retail sales. The drop in retail sales was the first since February. In June, retail sales increased by .3%
Sales increased at furniture, electronics, food, and clothing stores as well as at gasoline stations. They fell at automobile and parts stores as well as at health and personal care stores.
Total sales from May-July increased 2.7% from the same period last year. That was in part fueled by the government-issued stimulus checks that were sent to most taxpayers.
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