The US Census Bureau announced today that advance estimates of US retail and food services sales for September, seasonally adjusted, but not for price changes, were $344.7 billion, a decrease of 1.5 per cent from the previous month and 5.7 per cent below September 2008. The end of the "cash for clunkers" car rebate scheme impacted the data.

Total sales for the July through September 2009 period were down 6.6 per cent from the same period a year ago.

The data showed car and parts sales in September fell by 10.4 per cent -  - the largest drop since a 10.6 per cent dip in August 2005. August car sales had jumped 7.8 per cent; ex-car sales in August rose 1.0 per cent.

Aside from falling car sales in September, other sales rose 0.5 per cent

The July to August 2009 per cent change was revised from +2.7 per cent to +2.2 per cent.

Retail trade sales were down 1.7 per cent from August 2009 and 6.4 per cent below last year. Gasoline stations sales were down 25.3 per cent  from September 2008 and building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers were down 13.0 per cent ) from last year.

Import prices

The Department of Labor reported today that US import prices rose slightly in September, posting their sixth increase in the past seven months as higher prices for non-petroleum goods offset falling costs for fuel imports.

Import prices rose 0.1 per cent in September, which follows a revised 1.6 per cent increase in August. The August increase in import prices was originally estimated to be 2.0 per cent.

Despite the latest increase, import prices remain 12 per cent below their September 2008 level.