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NEW YORK — Retail sales advanced at a healthy rate in June, helped by a stronger employment picture that has boosted consumer confidence.
Retail sales advanced at a healthy rate in June, helped by a stronger employment picture that has boosted consumer confidence.
Consumer purchases increased 0.2% in June, according to the Department of Commerce, which also revised May sales upwards to a 0.5% increase. The June increase was held back by auto sales, which the Department of Commerce includes in its sales figures. When autos, gasoline, building materials and food services are excluded, June sales advanced 0.6%.
Costco Wholesale Corp. reported a 10% sales gain for the five-week period ended July 6, to $10.89 billion. Same-store sales increased 6%, helped by higher gasoline prices.
Walgreen Co. posted a 7.5% comparable-store sales gain.
The Thomson Reuters Same Store Sales Index registered a 4% comparable-stores sales gain for June, and a 5.1% gain when drug stores are included.
