Retail Sales Rose in August, Suggesting Recovery Across the Industry

Consumer activity saw a lift in August, thanks to a strong back-to-school shopping season and end-of-summer travel. Retail sales were $618.7 billion in August, marking a 0.7% jump from July, according to a monthly report from the U.S. Census Bureau. Sales were up 15.1% compared to August 2020, with clothing and accessories sales up 38.8% year-over-year. The bump comes after a 1.1% decline in July sales compared to June. The dip in July suggested impacts from the Delta variant and shipping and supply chain disruptions across the industry. Now, back-to-school shopping and the end-of-summer season have prompted an uptick in sales. And while concerns surrounding the Delta variant and inflation continue to persist, experts are optimistic about the industry’s road to recovery. “Looking ahead, we maintain our view that retail will end the year on a very solid note,” said Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, in a statement. “Growth will moderate over the coming months, but the consumer still has plenty of firepower to give retail a happy sendoff as we exit 2021.” In general, port congestion and shipping disruptions have caused major headaches for brands and retailers this quarter. Freight rates have reached record highs amid pandemic-related shipping slowdowns, factory and store

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