Retail sales show significant jump in August

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Retail sales in August showed the largest increase in four months, brightening the outlook for economic growth in the upcoming quarter.

The report from the Commerce department showed a .6 percent gain in 13 categories, with auto dealers and building material stores leading the pack.

"The consumer is in decent shape right now," Gus Faucher, an economist at PNC Financial Services Group Inc., told Bloomberg. "We are looking at solid economic growth in the third quarter."

The retail report counters the August's disappointing job report, which broke the longest hiring streak since 1997.

Bloomberg reports a survey of economists shows a projected a 3 percent expansion of the economy in the next quarter.