U.S. retail and food service sales rose 0.5% in July compared with the previous month and were up 3.9% year-over-year, according to Commerce Department data. Gains were led by motor vehicles and home furnishings, even as consumer sentiment surveys reflected ongoing concerns about inflation and a cooling job market.
Motor vehicles and parts sales climbed 1.6% from June, while furniture and home furnishings rose 1.4%. Notably, furniture sales—long considered a weaker category due to sluggish housing activity—grew 5.1% from July 2024.
In contrast, sales of building materials and garden supplies fell 1% month-over-month and were down 2.6% from a year ago, reflecting softness in housing-related spending. Meanwhile, restaurants and bars, a category that has remained resilient over the past year, saw a slight 0.4% monthly decline but maintained a 5.6% year-over-year increase.
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