Last month, receipts at auto dealerships rose 1.8 percent after advancing 1.4 percent the prior month. Excluding autos, sales were flat after rising 0.3 percent the prior month.
Sales at building materials and garden equipment suppliers fell 2.2 percent, the weakest reading since May last year.
Factory Growth Accelerates
Growth in New York state's manufacturing sector accelerated in July as new orders and employment improved, a report from the New York Federal Reserve showed on Monday.
The New York Fed's "Empire State" general business conditions index rose to 9.46 from 7.84 in June, topping expectations for 5.00. A reading above zero indicates expansion.
The report's new orders index rebounded into positive territory to plus 3.77 from minus 6.69 the previous month, while its gauge on inventories was less negative at minus 6.52 from minus 11.29.
Employment gauges were encouraging but remained weak in July. The index for the number of employees stepped up to 3.26 from zero and the average employee workweek index moved to minus 7.61 from minus 11.29.
The outlook for firms showed optimism with the index of six-month business conditions rising to 32.01 from 24.98.
The survey of manufacturing plants in the state is one of the earliest monthly guideposts to U.S. factory conditions.