Retail sales rose 0.7% in September, much stronger than estimate

Consumers showed surprising strength in September, boosting retail sales well above expectations despite higher interest rates and worries over a weakening economy.

Retail sales rose 0.7% on the month, well above the 0.3% Dow Jones estimate, according to the advance report the Commerce Department released Tuesday. Excluding autos, sales were up 0.6%, also well ahead of the forecast for just 0.2%.