Wall Street Journal (08/13/14) Ben Leubsdorf
Sales at U.S. retailers were unchanged in July, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, as sales fell at auto dealers and department stores but rose at clothing and grocery stores. Sales have slowed since the spring, when they spiked following a harsh winter across much of the U.S. The spending slowdown runs counter to the robust labor market, which has seen U.S. companies over the last six months hire at the fastest pace since 2006. Anemic paychecks may be one reason consumers are restraining their spending.