By — Joseph Pisani, Associated Press Joseph Pisani, Associated Press Leave a comment 0comments Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/july-retail-sales-fell-1-1-as-covid-19-surge-hits-spending Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter July retail sales fell 1.1 percent as COVID-19 surge hits spending Economy Aug 17, 2021 9:22 AM EDT NEW YORK (AP) — Americans cut back on their spending last month as a surge in COVID-19 cases kept people away from stores. Retail sales fell a seasonal adjusted 1.1 percent in July from the month before, the U.S. Commerce Department said Tuesday. It was a much larger drop than the 0.3 percent decline Wall Street analysts had expected. The report is the first glimpse into whether a surge in COVID-19 cases in July has kept people from heading out to shop. At the end of July, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began recommending that even vaccinated people start wearing masks indoors in public places due to the delta variant which is causing a spike in COVID-19 cases. According to Tuesday’s report, spending fell at stores that sell clothing, furniture and sporting goods. Major retailers are releasing their financial results this week, which may also offer clues into whether there have been any changes in shopping behavior. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Joseph Pisani, Associated Press Joseph Pisani, Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Americans cut back on their spending last month as a surge in COVID-19 cases kept people away from stores. Retail sales fell a seasonal adjusted 1.1 percent in July from the month before, the U.S. Commerce Department said Tuesday. It was a much larger drop than the 0.3 percent decline Wall Street analysts had expected. The report is the first glimpse into whether a surge in COVID-19 cases in July has kept people from heading out to shop. At the end of July, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began recommending that even vaccinated people start wearing masks indoors in public places due to the delta variant which is causing a spike in COVID-19 cases. According to Tuesday’s report, spending fell at stores that sell clothing, furniture and sporting goods. Major retailers are releasing their financial results this week, which may also offer clues into whether there have been any changes in shopping behavior. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now