US retail sales rose a disappointing 0.2 percent in July, in part due to a drop in auto sales, government data showed Tuesday.
Retail and food service sales rose 0.2 percent in July 2013 compared with June 2013 after revised government figures showed sales had risen 0.6 percent in June, according to data from the US Department of Commerce.
The jump marks the fourth month in a row of retail sales increases.
However, analysts had projected a rise of 0.4 percent.
The July performance was better compared with the year-ago figures, rising 5.4 percent from July 2012.
In July, nine of 13 sectors showed increases, including food and beverage stores (up 0.8 percent) and gasoline stations (up 0.9 percent).
However, the data showed declines in furniture and home furnishings (down 1.4 percent) and motor vehicles and parts (down 1.0 percent), a strong category in recent reports.
US July retail sales sluggish
