03:03 PM EDT, 09/16/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Retail sales rose by 0.6% in August and were up 0.7% excluding a 0.5% gain in auto sales, above estimates for both metrics.

A 0.7% increase in foods services sales, a 1.0% gain in clothing sales and a 0.5% increase in gasoline station sales were key factors.

Control group retail sales, which exclude motor vehicles, gas, building materials, and food services, rose by 0.7% after a 0.5% gain in July.

Import prices rose by 0.3% in August after a 0.2% gain in the previous month, above expectations. Import prices were up 0.4% excluding a 0.8% decline in fuel prices. Petroleum prices were down 0.2%.

Export prices rose by 0.3% in August and were still up 0.3% excluding a flat reading for agricultural prices.

August industrial production rose by 0.1% after a 0.4% decline in the previous month, with manufacturing production up 0.2% overall and up 0.1% excluding a 2.6% jump in motor vehicle and parts production.

Utilities output fell by 2.0% on a sharp drop in electricity production. Mining production rebounded by 0.9%.

The New York Federal Reserve's monthly business leaders index, a measure of services conditions, fell to minus 19.4 in September from minus 11.7 in August, indicating more widespread contraction. Other services data will be released over the coming weeks.

The National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index remained at 32 in September but was still below a reading of 41 a year ago. The six-month outlook hit its highest level in six months on expectations that the Federal Open Market Committee will lower interest rates.

Business inventories rose by 0.2% in July, as expected and following a 0.2% increase in June. Business sales rose by 1.0%, with gains at the factory, wholesale, and retail levels.

Redbook reported that US same-store retail sales were up 6.3% year-over-year in the week ended Sept. 12, slower than a 6.6% gain in the prior week. Redbook noted inconsistent sales as the seasonal theme changed from back-to-school to fall, but strong sales for household items and basic commodities.

The Q3 GDPnow estimate from the Atlanta Fed is for a 3.4% gain, revised up from a 3.1% increase reported on Sept. 10. The next update is scheduled for Wednesday.