Consumers began opening their wallets a bit more in August, following several months of mostly sluggish sales figures.
Retail sales increased 2.7% in August, following a 0.1% drop in July, the Commerce Department reported today.
Last month's figures were 5.3% below August 2008. From June through August, retail sales were 7.6% less than the same period last year.
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Total retail and food sales in July were $351.4 billion, compared with $342.2 billion in July.
August numbers showed a 1.1% increase in non-automobile sales from July, but that number represented an 8.6% drop from August 2008.
There was a 10.6% increase in automobiles and automobile parts sales from June-fueled in part by the government's "cash for Clunkers" program-and an 8.1% decline from July 2008.
All kinds of stores, except furniture and home improvement/garden stores, saw increased sales.
The largest increases were at gasoline stations, department stores, clothing stores, sporting goods/book/hobby stores which experienced increases of 5.1%, 2.4%, 2.4%, and 2.3%, respectively.
Sales at furniture stores fell 1.6% and at building supply and garden stores they fell 1.2%.
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