Retail sales decreased 0.7% to $69.8 billion in September. Sales were down in six of nine subsectors, led by decreases at motor vehicle and parts dealers.

• Core retail sales—which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers—were relatively unchanged in September.
• In volume terms, retail sales decreased 0.8% in September.
• Retail sales were up 0.2% in the third quarter. In volume terms, quarterly retail sales were down 0.3%.