U.S. retail sales grew in September, beating forecasts as consumer spending remains resilient in the face of a slowdown. Retail sales increased by 0.7% compared to August, thereby outpacing estimates of a 0.1% rise compiled by Bloomberg. August sales were revised upwards to 0.8% from a 0.6% rise.
Despite the Federal Reserve’s continued tight fiscal policy in the face of stubborn inflation, consumer spending has remained high. The September report released by the Commerce Department showed that spending remained largely unaffected by a tightening credit environment and gas prices hitting 2023 highs as well as a revival in student loan repayments.
“While mounting headwinds to consumer incomes mean we expect spending growth to slow in the months ahead, the risks that spending contracts outright are fading,” Oxford Economics lead U.S. economist Michael Pearce observed of the current economic climate.