U.S. retail sales in September held fairly steady, rising 3.4% overall in the sectors tracked by Retail Dive, according to the numbers released monthly by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Still, the report portends a tepid holiday shopping season, analysts say.
“A more cautious and considered consumer mindset continues to set in,” GlobalData Managing Director Neil Saunders said in emailed comments. “This holiday will not be a terrible one for most retailers, but it will be much more challenging than the past few years.”
