U.S. Retail Sales Rose 0.2% in September, Below Expectations

U.S. retail spending increased at a slower clip in September, according to a report delayed by more than a month due to the government shutdown. 

Purchases at stores, restaurants and online increased a seasonally adjusted 0.2% in September from the prior month, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. That was below the 0.3% increase economists had expected, and marked a cooling from the 0.6% increase clocked in August.