Retail Sales Up Slightly In June After May Drop

The Associated Press reports:

Consumers spent more on cars and in big chain stores in June but falling gas prices held back retail sales.

The Commerce Department said Thursday that retail sales rose a modest 0.1 percent last month. That follows a 0.1 percent decrease in May, the first time in 11 months that sales fell.

When excluding autos, retail sales were flat in June.

A rebound from spring supply disruptions stemming from the Japan crises helped pushed auto sales up 0.8 percent. And sales at general merchandise stores, which include stores such as Wal-Mart and Target, rose 0.4 percent.