Aug retail sales -0.2%, +0.2% ex mtr veh,...>

US DATA: Aug retail sales -0.2%, +0.2% ex mtr veh, -0.2% ex auto, 

bldg materials, gas and food services, all below expectations and 

following an downward revisions to both June and July. Commerce said 

they cannot isolate the impact of the hurricanes from the national data, 

adding they survey responses were within normal ranges nationally, 

though a little behind in the hurricane-impacted regions. Commerce said 

it did not alter any of its estimation methods. Still, the impact of 

Hurricane Harvey can be seen in several retail categories and will 

likely be worse in September when the impact of Hurricane Irma will also 

appear. Aug mtr veh sales -1.6%, gas +2.5% (total ex. gas -0.4%), bldg 

mat -0.5%, food services +0.3%. Sales were mixed for the other categories, 

though declines for electronics, clothing, and nonstore retailers stand 

out. 3Q total sales +0.6% vs 2Q average at an annual rate and were +1.0% 

ex motor vehicles and +1.3% ex autos, building materials, gas, and food 

services, not as rosy as after the original August data and not likely 

to improve in September. See MNI main wire.