The consumer remained in a spending mood last month. Retail sales jumped 1.1% following an upwardly revised 1.2% August rise, last month reported as 0.9%. July's 0.7% increase was upwardly revised as well. A 0.8% gain in September sales was expected according to Action Economics. Less autos, retail sales also were strong and posted a 1.1% rise which was twice expectations. That increase followed a 1.0% gain in August which was upwardly revised.

Higher sales at gasoline service stations led last month's strength with a 2.5% (5.8% y/y) rise as Haver's seasonally adjusted gasoline price series rose 5.8% m/m. Motor vehicle sales also were strong and gained 1.3% (8.1% y/y). That increase came after the report earlier this month that unit sales of light vehicles rose 3.0% (13.9% y/y). Discretionary spending was on the upswing as nonauto sales excluding gasoline increased 1.0% (4.4% y/y).

Sales of home furnishings, appliances and electronics jumped 2.4% (5.8% y/y). Appliance and electronics purchases spiked 4.5% (3.6% y/y) while furniture store sales nudged up just 0.4% (8.1% y/y). Sales of apparel & accessory stores also increased 0.6% (4.9% y/y) following firm gains in the prior four months. Sales of general merchandise rose 0.3% (-1.1% y/y) after several months of decline since January. Sales of building materials gained 1.1% (4.5% y/y). Food & beverages store sales rose 1.2% (4.0% y/y) while sales of nonstore retailers spiked 1.8% (15.0% y/y).

The retail sales figure are available in Haver's USECON database. The Action Economics figures are in the AS1REPNA database.