The Census Bureau's Advance Retail Sales Report for August revealed headline sales were up 0.1% last month. The latest reading was higher than the expected -0.2% monthly growth in consumer spending. For an inflation-adjusted perspective on retail sales, take a look at our Real Retail Sales commentary.

Retail sales ticked up 0.1% in August as consumers pulled back on spending, the Commerce Department said on Tuesday. Why it matters: That consumers kept spending, albeit at a slower rate than earlier in the summer,

US retail sales unexpectedly rose in August, pointing to healthy consumer demand that continues to underpin the economy.