The Leaders Globe Media

In August, U.S. retail sales rose moderately driven higher by a jump in auto buying and healthy online sales. The Commerce Department says retail sales increased 0.4% last month, down from a healthy 0.8% in July. Excluding autos, sales were unchanged for the first time since February. The modest slowdown follows signs that consumer confidence, while still strong, has slipped a bit as the U.S.-China trade war has intensified. U.S. businesses have cut back on their investment and expansion plans amid the trade war’s uncertainty and exports have declined. That has left consumers as a key source of growth. Online sales continued to soar, rising 1.6%, roughly the same amount as in July, when Amazon held its Prime Day. Retail sales have been strong for most of this year, and most economists have expected sales to slow from that healthy pace. Home and garden centers reported a strong 1.4% gain, which may have been partly spurred by preparations for Hurricane Dorian. Sales at sport...