U.S. retail sales defied expectations in August, posting a modest 0.1% rise from July. While declines in auto sales and gasoline receipts weighed on overall performance, a rise in spending on online shopping, sporting goods, health and personal care, and garden stores provided a much-needed boost, highlighting consumer resilience.This modest growth in retail sales signals that the economy is holding steady despite the underlying inflationary pressures. On a year-over-year basis, retail sales in August saw a ...