Retail sales rise 0.7% in July from June as inflation continues to ease

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO
AP Retail Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans increased their spending last month as inflation continued to ease on eggs, electronics, used cars and other items, and the job market remains healthy. Retail sales rose 0.7% in July from June. The gain followed a revised 0.3% increase the previous month, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. Excluding autos and gas, sales rose a solid 1%. Sales at a number of different outlets increased including department stores and clothing and accessories stores. But furniture and home furnishings stores and electronics stores remained weak.The uptick reflects the economy’s resiliency despite a still challenging economic environment of still high prices and higher interest rates that make borrowing on credit cards and getting a mortgage for a house more expensive.