Retail sales edged up 0.1% to $49.1 billion in September. Higher sales at gasoline stations, particularly due to higher prices, were the main contributor to the gain. Excluding sales in this subsector, retail sales declined 0.2%.

Sales were up in 5 of 11 subsectors, representing 52% of retail trade.

After removing the effects of price changes, retail sales in volume terms decreased 0.6%.

Receipts at gasoline stations (+2.6%) were up for a second consecutive month. This gain reflected higher prices at the pump, largely due to supply disruptions caused by Hurricane Harvey. In volume terms, sales at gasoline stations declined 2.5%.