An unexpected decline in August retail sales and downward revisions to the prior two months indicate Americans tempered their spending during the summer, Commerce Department figures showed Friday. Highlights of Retail Sales (August) Overall sales fell 0.2% (est. 0.1% gain) after a 0.3% increase (prev. 0.6% gain); June sales dropped 0.1% (prev. 0.3% rise) Purchases at auto dealers dropped 1.6% after no change Retail-control group sales, which are used to calculate GDP and exclude the categories of food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, decreased 0.2% following a 0.6% advance 5 of ... (full story)