Retail sales rose a solid 0.5% last month from the previous month, and June spending was stronger than expected, according to the Commerce Department’s report released Friday. June’s retail sales were revised upward to 0.9% from the original 0.6% increase, the agency said. The pace in July matched economists’ estimates.

Retail sales were up by 0.5 percent for July, with June revised higher to 0.9 percent. Core retail sales also increased by 0.5 percent (0.8 percent for June). Read more

Consumers are still buying things in the United States, a new report from the Census Bureau said Friday. Spending at U.S. retailers rose 0.5% in July.