US retail sales rose by 0.2% in June, as expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following the previous month's revised 1.0% increase.
Excluding a 1.9% increase in motor vehicle sales, retail sales were down 0.2% compared with an expected 0.1% decrease. That followed a 1.0% increase in May.
Removing both motor vehicles and a 5.3% decline in gasoline station sales, retail sales were up 0.4% in June after a 0.8% increase in May.
Sales at food services and drinking places rose 0.1% after a 1.2% increase in the previous month. There were also sales gains for electronics, sporting goods and at nonstore retailers, but declines at food and beverage stores and at healthcare and stores.
Control group retail sales, which exclude motor vehicles, gas, building materials, and food services, rose by 0.6% after a 0.9% gain in May.
The monthly retail sales report from the US Commerce Department measures spending on retail products and food, the largest portion of economic growth. The report covers spending on goods with a services report released later each month.
Investors watch the control group that excludes food services, autos, gasoline and building materials because it feeds directly into the GDP report measuring economic growth.
If the data shows a strong US economy, that's generally bullish for stocks and bearish for bonds.