August U.S. retail sales increase to 0.9%

 U.S. retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 0.9% in August as spending rose sharply on autos and gasoline, the Commerce Department reported Friday. Excluding autos, Core retail sales climbed 0.8%. The boost in sales, however, was largely driven by higher gasoline prices as consumers had to pay more at the pump. Gas stations reported a 5.5% increase in sales, the biggest gain since November 2009. Auto sales rose 1.3% last month while purchases at bars and restaurants advanced 0.5%. Sales fell at stores that sell electronics, appliances, clothes and general merchandise. For July, the increase in retail sales was revised down to 0.6% from an initial reading of 0.8%. In the past 12 months, retail sales in the U.S. have risen 4.7%.