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Good news from the US retail sector as a report from the Commerce Department showed that sales were up over the summer. After weeks of market turbulence due to fears that the US was about to hit a recession, the report has been welcomed as a sign that the world’s largest economy is on steadier ground.

Figures from July were revised to show a core sales rise of 0.3%, a surge of 1.1%, with a continued increase of 0.1% in August, despite some economists forecasting a fall. Year on year, retail has gone up 2.1%. Online purchases were more than making up for declines in other areas with a 1.4% increase. Gas stations did take a tumble of 1.2%, due in part to lower prices for fuel, which is freeing up money for purchases. Sporting goods, musical instruments, and book stores went up as did building and gardening equipment, along with health and personal care outlets. Manufacturing also saw a 0.9% turnaround and business inventories went up 0.4%.

There were some drops. Food services and drinking places saw a stalemate, maintaining their 0.2% increase from July, with some economists saying this sector gives the clearest indicator of household spending. Furniture, electronics, and clothing retailers all fell. Department stores took a 1.1% hit. Yet some of those declines in receipts are going to be due to lower prices rather than volume sold.