Retail Sales Rise 0.8% in July

Retail sales increased 0.8% in July, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

The rise followed a 0.7% decline in June and is the first gain in four months. 

The July increase was above economists’ forecasts of a 0.3% rise, Bloomberg reported.

Auto dealers’ sales increased 0.8% while purchases excluding autos increased 0.9%.

All of the 13 major retail sales categories increased, Bloomberg said.

Almost all trucking operations depend on the health of retail sales because such sales involve nearly every type of cargo.