US Retail Sales Fell in January on Fewer Vehicle Purchases (3)

US retail sales declined in January, restrained by weakness at auto dealers as winter weather-related disruptions tempered some activity.

The value of retail purchases, not adjusted for inflation, decreased 0.2% after no change in December, Commerce Department data showed Friday. Excluding car dealers, sales were little changed.

Seven out of 13 categories posted decreases. Motor vehicle sales dropped 0.9%, while receipts at apparel merchants, gas stations and health and personal care stores also declined.

The report showed a 0.3% increase in so-called control-group sales — which feed into the government’s calculation of goods spending for ...