October Sees First Decline in US Retail Sales in Seven Months

US retail sales fell 0.1% in October, marking the first decline since March, as Americans faced higher borrowing costs and increased credit card debt. The drop was driven by a decrease in sales of big-ticket items such as cars and furniture, while spending at restaurants and supermarkets remained steady. The Federal Reserve's efforts to combat high inflation through interest rate hikes may have contributed to the decline, but the modest decrease suggests no severe economic weakness at this time.