Retail Sales Tick Up Despite Shutdown

[Purveyor]

Source: McClatchy

WASHINGTON — Despite a partial shutdown of the federal government and uncertainty over Washington wrangling, retail sales improved slightly during October, a government report said Wednesday.

Retail sales improved by four-tenths of a percentage point during the month, the Commerce Department said. Excluding automobile sales, the improvement was a more modest two-tenths of a percentage point.

Core retail sales, which exclude automobile dealerships, gas stations and materials supplies, improved by half a percentage point on top of a three-tenths of a percentage point gain in September.

Home furnishings and electronics sales drove the growth during the month, while spending on clothing and food and beverages fell during the month.


Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/11/20/209144/retail-sales-tick-up-despite-shutdown.html

[golfguru]

1. Amazing!

IMHO sales in the long run balance out. They may slow down or pick up due to incentives such as cash for clunkers, but eventually people buy what they need or want.