Como se combate o populismo? "Com eleições", responde Fukuyama

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8:30am 09/14/05 BIGGEST DECLINE IN RETAIL SALES SINCE NOV. 2001
8:30am 09/14/05 U.S. RETAIL SALES UP 7.9% YEAR-ON-YEAR
8:30am 09/14/05 U.S. AUG. GASOLINE SALES RISE 4.4%
8:30am 09/14/05 U.S. AUG. AUTO SALES FALL RECORD 12%
8:30am 09/14/05 U.S. AUG. RETAIL SALES EX-AUTOS, EX-GAS UP 0.5%
8:30am 09/14/05 U.S. AUG. RETAIL SALES EX-AUTOS UP 1% VS. 0.6% EXPECTED
8:30am 09/14/05 U.S. AUG. RETAIL SALES FALL 2.1% VS. -1.2% EXPECTED

ECONOMIC REPORT: Retail sales plunge 2.1% in Aug.; Biggest drop in 4 years, as auto sales tumble record 12%
By Rex Nutting, MarketWatch
Last Update: 8:30 AM ET Sept. 14, 2005

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - U.S. retail sales fell 2.1% in August, the biggest decline in nearly four years as auto sales fell a record 12%, the Commerce Department estimated Wednesday.

Excluding autos, retail sales increased 1%, with half of the increase due to higher sales of gasoline, reflecting higher prices.

Excluding both autos and gas, retail sales increased 0.5%, with gains across most store types.

Economists were expecting a large decline in retail sales, with the average forecast in the MarketWatch survey calling for a 1.2% decline. Excluding autos, sales were expected to rise 0.6%.

In July, retail sales had increased 1.8%, with sales excluding autos up 0.5%

Automakers had boosted sales in July by offering sweetheart deals, but those gains were reversed in August.

Retail sales are up 7.9% in the past 12 months. Excluding autos, sales are up 9.4%. Excluding gasoline, sales are up 6%. The figures do not include price changes.

The government could not estimate the impact of Hurricane Katrina on August sales. The storm hit southern Florida before slamming into the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29. The impacted metro areas in the Gulf Coast account for 1.2% of U.S. sales.

The Commerce Department estimated August sales for those companies that were unable to report monthly figures. Such estimations for missing data are routine and are a major reason why the initial retail sales figures often are revised.

The August retail sales report shows U.S. consumers were maintaining robust spending levels despite the large increase in gasoline prices.

Since the storm, however, retail chain stores have reported a softening of demand, which they attribute to the loss of discretionary income from higher gas prices.

By store type, sales were mixed in August.

Furniture stores sales increased 0.9%, while building material store sales increased 0.5%. Electronics store sales rose 0.3%.

Gasoline station sales increased 4.4%.

Sales at general merchandise stores rose 0.3%, while clothing store sales were flat. Sales at health and personal care stores jumped 1.2%.

Food store sales rose 0.6%, but restaurant sales were flat.

Sales at leisure-time goods stores rose 0.5%.

Nonstore retailer's sales rose 1.8%.