US retail sales miss expectations in July, could slow further

United States retail sales in July increased less than expected as consumers cut back on purchases of motor vehicles and could slow further in the months ahead amid spiralling new COVID-19 infections and a reduction in unemployment benefit cheques.

The report from the Commerce Department on Friday, however, did not change expectations that consumer spending will rebound this quarter after a record collapse in the second quarter.

Retail sales rose 1.2 percent last month after advancing 8.4 percent in June. Economists polled by Reuters news agency had forecast retail sales would rise 1.9 percent in July.

Retail sales have been rebounding as businesses resumed operations after being shuttered in mid-March to slow the spread of the respiratory illness. Coronavirus infections continue to spread across the US, forcing authorities in some of the hotspots to either shut down businesses again or pause reopenings.

The respiratory illness caused by the virus has left consumers wary of visiting places like restaurants and shopping centres, cutting into spending.

The slowdown in retail sales in July was led by a 1.2 percent decline in receipts at auto dealerships. That followed a 6.1 percent acceleration in June. Consumers also cut back spending at hobby, musical instrument and book stores, as well as at building materials outlets. But they boosted purchases at electronics and appliance stores, which soared 22.9 percent, likely reflecting strong demand as many Americans work from home.

Receipts at restaurants and bars increased 5.0 percent, though the pace slowed from the 26.7 percent notched in June. Online and mail-order retail sales rebounded 0.7 percent. Furniture store sales were flat. Receipts at clothing stores increased by 5.7 percent.

Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales increased 1.4 percent in July after soaring 6.0 percent in June. These so-called core retail sales correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of the gross domestic product (GDP) report.

Consumer spending collapsed at a 34.6 percent annualised pace in the second quarter. That led to GDP plunging at a 32.9 percent rate last quarter, the deepest decline in output since the government started keeping records in 1947.

The dollar was trading lower against a basket of currencies while prices of US Treasuries were higher. Stocks on Wall Street opened lower.

Retail sales could lose further momentum as tens of millions of unemployed people lost a $600 weekly jobless benefits supplement at the end of July, which had accounted for 20 percent of personal income, helping with the buying of food and paying of bills. President Donald Trump on Saturday signed several executive orders, including one that extended the supplement, though he reduced the weekly payout to $400.

But states, which are required to cover $100 of the benefits under the order, are themselves under immense financial pressure caused by the pandemic. The remaining $300 will be funded from a limited emergency disaster relief programme, which economists estimated could be depleted as early as September.

Economists saw little boost to spending from the other executive orders suspending the collection of payroll taxes for a group of workers, stopping evictions from rental housing that has federal financial backing and extending zero percent interest on federally financed student loans.

Republicans and Democrats are bickering over new aid for the economy even as signs mount that activity is stalling. About 28.3 million people are on unemployment benefits.