Retail Sales Rose Modestly in September

Retail sales edged up just slightly in September as a sharp drop in gasoline prices tempered purchases and consumers pulled back after opening their wallets in previous months. Purchases at stores and online rose 0.1 percent, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. Economists expected a 0.2 percent rise. But even excluding volatile autos and gasoline, sales were virtually flat. Economists expected a 0.3 percent rise. And retail sales in July were revised from a 0.2 percent increase to unchanged.