U.S. Retail Sales Rose Less Than Expected in September

Americans reined in their spending at restaurants and department stores

Harriet Torry

Updated Oct. 15, 2018 1:28 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON—American consumers reined in their spending at restaurants and department stores in September, resulting in the second straight month of weak spending as the holiday season approaches.

Sales at retail stores and restaurants rose a seasonally adjusted 0.1% in September, the Commerce Department said Monday. That undershot economists’ expectations for a 0.7% month-over-month increase, and matched the rate of spending in August. Retail sales rose 0.6% in July.

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