US Retail Sales Were Flat in July as Inflation Takes a Toll

US Retail Sales Were Flat in July as Inflation Takes a Toll
A woman wheels a cart with her purchases out of a Walmart, in Derry, N.H.., on Nov. 18, 2020. Charles Krupa/AP Photo
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WASHINGTON—The pace of sales at U.S. retailers was unchanged last month as persistently high inflation and rising interest rates forced many households to spend more cautiously.

Retail purchases were flat after having risen 0.8 percent in June, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. Economists had expected a slight increase in July retail sales.