WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Sales at U.S. retailers rose in August by the largest amount since April, raising confidence in the economic outlook for the second half of the year. Retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6% last month, or by 0.3% excluding the auto sector, the Commerce Department said Friday. Retail sales account for about one-third of consumer spending, the main engine of U.S. economic activity. Economists polled by MarketWatch had forecast retail sales to rise by 0.6% overall and by 0.2% minus autos. What's more, sales were revised higher for June and July. In July, sales were revised to a show a 0.3% increase instead of unchanged. And June sales were revised up to 0.4% from 0.2%. In the past year, retail sales have risen 5.0%. Auto sales rose 1.5% in August, the largest increase since March. There were broad-based gains across other sectors, with only general-stores and department stores showing declines. And, as expected, gas station sales were hit by lower prices.
