US retail sales rose 0.3% mom to USD 683.3B in August, above expectation of 0.0% mom. Ex-auto sales dropped -0.3% mom, below expectation of 0.0% mom. Ex-gasoline sales rose 0.8% mom. Ex-auto, ex-gasoline sales rose 0.3% mom.
Comparing with a year ago, total sales rose 9.1% yoy. Total sales for June through August were up 9.3% from the same period a year ago.