U.S. retail sales rose in June on car purchases and Prime Day

U.S. retail sales rose in June, supported by higher vehicle purchases and spending during Amazon Prime Day, according to data reported by MarketWatch. The increase came after several months of mixed results and showed continued consumer activity in both physical and digital channels.

Sales by category Automobile dealers recorded the largest monthly gain among major categories. Electronics and appliance stores also posted increases tied to the online shopping event. Grocery stores and building-material retailers showed smaller changes, while some apparel and department-store segments remained flat.

Broader context The June figures follow a period of uneven monthly readings that had raised questions about the pace of consumer spending. MarketWatch noted that the latest data indicated the economy had not lost momentum in the reported period. No further monthly figures were included in the report.