US retail sales miss expectations in October

[WASHINGTON] US retail sales increased less than expected in October and could slow further, restrained by spiraling new Covid-19 infections and declining household income as millions of unemployed Americans lose government financial support.

Retail sales rose 0.3 per cent last month, the Commerce Department said on Tuesday. Data for September was revised down to show sales surging 1.6 per cent instead of shooting up 1.9 per cent as previously reported. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast retail sales would gain 0.5 per cent in October.

Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales nudged up 0.1 per cent after a downwardly revised 0.9 per cent increase in September. These so-called core retail sales correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of gross domestic product. They were previously estimated to have risen 1.4 per cent in September.

Daily new coronavirus cases have been exceeding 100,000 since early this month, pushing the number of infections in the United States above 11 million, according to a Reuters tally.

Some state and local governments have imposed new restrictions on businesses.

Restrictions and consumer avoidance of crowded places like bars and restaurants could undercut spending and trigger another wave of layoffs, further squeezing incomes following the loss of a government weekly unemployment subsidy.

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The supplement, which was part of more than US$3 trillion in government coronavirus relief, has lapsed for millions of unemployed and underemployed workers. Millions more will lose benefits next month when a government-funded programme for the self-employed, gig workers and others who do not qualify for the regular state unemployment programmes expires.

Another government programme providing benefits for people who have exhausted their six months of eligibility for state aid will also lapse at the end of December.

A second rescue package is unlikely before President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January.

Economists expect moderate retail sales growth for the rest of the year, which will contribute to slower economic growth after a historic rebound in gross domestic product in the third quarter. A JPMorgan survey of credit and debit cardholders showed a broad decline in spending through Nov 9, with big drops in states where Covid-19 is spreading most rapidly.

Growth estimates for the fourth quarter are below a 5 per cent annualised rate. The economy grew at a 33.1 per cent rate in the July-September quarter after contracting at 31.4 per cent pace in the second quarter, the deepest since the government started keeping records in 1947.

REUTERS