U.S. Retail Sales Rise 0.2% in June as Cooling Inflation Lifts Discretionary Spending
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 16
U.S. Retail Sales Rise 0.2% in June as Cooling Inflation Lifts Discretionary Spending
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 16
Summary
U.S. retail and food services sales rose 0.2% in June, adding to a steadier spending trend even after the pace cooled from April and May.
Furniture stores, electronics retailers and restaurants posted gains as easing inflation and a labor market showing some renewed life gave households more room to buy wants, not just essentials.
Second-quarter sales were up 6.4% from a year earlier before inflation, suggesting consumer demand remained resilient despite high interest rates, tariffs and other headwinds.
That resilience is still uneven: higher-income households, helped by rising stock portfolios, have driven much of consumption, while many others face heavier debt, lower savings and wage growth that recently lagged inflation.