Weak US retail sales cast shadow over slowing economy

US retail sales fell for the first time in seven months in September, suggesting that manufacturing-led weakness could be spreading to the broader economy, keeping the door open for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates again later this month.

The downbeat report from the Commerce Department on Wednesday came on the heels of data this month showing a moderation in job growth and services sector activity in September. Signs of cracks in the economy's main pillar of support, ahead of the holiday season, could further stoke financial market fears of a sharper slowdown in economic growth.

The economy is being hamstrung by a 15-month trade war between the United States and China, which has soured business sentiment, leading to a decline in capital expenditure and a recession in manufacturing.

"This morning's report solidifies concerns of the consumer's inability to perpetually support the economy alone," said Lindsey Piegza, chief economist at Stifel in Chicago. "With business investment declining and manufacturing activity deteriorating, many investors brushed off fears of a slowdown because the consumer was still spending."

Retail sales dropped 0.3% last month as households cut back spending on motor vehicles, building materials, hobbies and online purchases. That was the first drop since February. Data for August was revised up to show retail sales rising 0.6% instead of 0.4% as previously reported.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast retail sales would climb 0.3% in September. Compared to September last year, retail sales increased 4.1%.

Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales were unchanged last month after advancing by an unrevised 0.3% in August. These so-called core retail sales correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of gross domestic product.

Last month's drop and August's unrevised gain in core retail sales prompted economists to cut their third-quarter consumer spending growth estimates to around a 2.5% annualized rate from a 3.0% pace. Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the economy, increased at a 4.6% rate in the second quarter, the most in 1-1/2 years.

That, together with another report from the Commerce Department showing business inventories were unchanged in August, led economists to lower their GDP forecasts for the third quarter to a range between 1.2% pace and 1.9% rate.

Slowing growth was also underscored by a third report from the Fed describing the economy as expanding "at a slight to modest pace," based on anecdotal information on business activity collected from the US central bank's contacts nationwide on or before Oct. 7.

The economy grew at a 2.0% pace in the April-June quarter, slowing from the first quarter's brisk 3.1% rate. The government will publish its snapshot of third-quarter GDP later this month.

Some economists speculated the cooling in hiring, marked by the smallest three-month average gain in private employment in seven years in September, was probably making Americans more cautious about spending.

The National Retail Federation blamed trade tensions and difficulties stripping seasonal fluctuations from the data at the end of summer and the start of the new school year. Retailers also said an early Labour Day holiday could have pulled into August some purchases which normally take place in September.

Growth is also being restricted by the fading stimulus from last year's $1.5 trillion tax cut package. With consumer spending slowing, a full trade deal still elusive and details of Britain's exit from the European Union unclear, many economists expect the Fed to cut interest rates at its Oct. 29-30 policy meeting to keep the expansion, now in its 11th year, on track.

The US central bank cut rates in September after reducing borrowing costs in July for the first time since 2008.

Retail sales in September were weighed down by a 0.9% drop in auto sales, despite lower lending rates. That was the biggest drop in eight months and followed a 1.9% acceleration in August. Receipts at service stations fell 0.7%, likely reflecting cheaper gasoline.

Sales at electronics and appliance stores were unchanged, getting no boost from the launch of Apple's new iPhone model. Sales at building material stores fell 1.0%. Online and mail-order retail sales dropped 0.3%, the most since December 2018.