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 The government data did show weakness at department stores and specialty clothing shops, where unusually warm weather dampened demand for fall clothing.
In other news, the Labor Department reported that wholesale prices jumped by 1.1 percent in September, pushed higher by gains in food and energy costs. Excluding those volatile categories, wholesale prices were up by a moderate 0.1 percent.
The weakness in sales at clothing stores was offset by another strong gain in auto sales, which jumped 1.2 percent in September following an even bigger 3.3 percent increase in August.
Sales at gasoline stations also rose strongly in September, up 2 percent following a 2.6 percent drop in August. However, this increase primarily reflected the fact that pump prices were rising last month after having declined the previous month.
The strength in retail sales should ease concerns that the worst slump in housing in 16 years and this summer's financial market turmoil could push the country into a recession.
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 The Federal Reserve last month cut a key interest rate for the first time in four years in an effort to make sure the economy's problems did not trigger a downturn. Some economists believe the Fed's September rate cut will be followed by another rate reduction in October.
[Associated Press; by Martin
Crutsinger]
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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