U.S. retail sales unexpectedly rose in August as a decline in receipts at auto dealerships was more than offset by strength in online purchases, suggesting that the economy remained on solid footing through much of the third quarter.

The Census Bureau's Advance Retail Sales Report for August revealed headline sales were up 0.1% last month. The latest reading was higher than the expected -0.2% monthly growth in consumer spending. For an inflation-adjusted perspective on retail sales,

Canadian retail sales likely rose sharply in August after a solid July gain, indicating a strong rebound after two consecutive quarters of shrinking sales.