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Highlights
Chain-store sales proved solid in August and together with very strong vehicle sales reported earlier this week point to a solid gain for retail trade data from the Commerce Department, to be released a week from Friday. Wal-Mart led the gains, posting same-store sales growth of about 3%, at the outside of expectations. Chains with operations in Texas and Florida said tax holidays, which this year fell in August not July, boosted sales as did later back-to-school dates in the two states. There were very few complaints that financial-market turmoil during the month hurt consumer spending.
Today's results have already proven a positive for retailer share prices and may yet help the stock market overall. The results, which do not offer ammunition for a Federal Reserve cut, are likely to pressure Treasury prices through the day and may give a boost to the dollar.
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