U.S. retail sales increase 0.9% in August (by Jeffry Bartash)

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - U.S. retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 0.9% in August as spending rose sharply on autos and gasoline, the Commerce Department reported Friday. Excluding autos, which can have an outsized impact on the report, retail sales climbed 0.8%. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch expected retail sales to rise by 0.8% last month, or by 0.8% minus autos. The boost in sales, however, was largely driven by higher gasoline prices as consumers had to pay more at the pump. Gas stations reported a 5.5% increase in sales, the biggest gain since November 2009. Auto sales rose 1.3% last month while purchases at bars and restaurants advanced 0.5%. Sales fell at stores that sell electronics, appliances, clothes and general merchandise. For July, the increase in retail sales was revised down to 0.6% from an initial reading of 0.8%. In the past 12 months, retail sales in the U.S. have risen 4.7%.