US retail sales fall amid trade tensions

Retail sales dropped in the United States in September for the first time in seven months as shoppers felt less secure amid domestic political turmoil and the fallout from the US-China trade war, according to analysts.

Retail sales, which consist of purchases in stores, restaurants and online, fell 0.3 percent in September following a 0.6 percent gain in August, figures from the Commerce Department showed. It was the largest decline since February, when sales fell 0.5 percent.

Consumers didn't spend as much on cars and trucks, leading to a 0.9 percent decline in spending in that sector. In August, there had been a 1.9 percent gain.