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Economists estimate that retail sales rose 0.2% during the month, unchanged from August. Excluding auto and gas, they estimate that sales fell 0.1%.
Retail sales data help us feel the pulse of consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of gross domestic product.
"Gasoline price declines likely reduced nominal retail sales in September, but we project decent gains in other spending, wrote UBS economists in a client preview. "Strong auto sales have already been reported, and we project a continuation of decent sales ex autos and gasoline. iPhone sales began in late September and probably contributed very slightly (<0.1 pct pt) to sales."
We'll be back with the latest once the data cross.