Retail sales up 0.3% in Aug. from July amid inflation

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO
AP Retail Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans picked up their spending a bit in August from July even as surging inflation on household necessities like rent and food take a toll on household budgets. The U.S. retail sales rose an unexpected 0.3% last month, from being down 0.4% in July,  the Commerce Department said Thursday. Excluding business at gas stations, sales rose 0.8%.Sales at grocery stores rose 0.5% , helped by rising prices in food. Business at restaurants rose 1.1%, while online sales fell 0.7%.  Business at clothing stores rose 0.4% while sales at furniture stores fell 1.3%.