Retail and food services sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual level of $459.8 billion in September, an increase of 0.6% from August and 2.7% from September 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Retail trade sales were up 0.6% from August and 2.2% from a year earlier. Non-store retail sales were up 10.6% from September 2015, while prices for food services and drinking places were up 6.1% over this period.
The September rebound in retail sales, following a disappointing summer, was led by stronger vehicle demand, accompanied by higher spending on furniture, home building supplies and sporting goods. Sales of appliances and electronics, as well as health care, were soft.