Retail sales turned higher in July

Sales were up 5.5 percent from a year ago and second quarter sales were up 5.9 percent from May through July of 2009, the department said.

In June, sales dropped 0.5 percent compared to May.

For a seven-month stretch, from January through July, sales have risen 6.4 percent overall, and 5.7 percent excluding automobile sales.

Over the same seven months, sales rose 21.1 percent at gasoline stations, where fluctuations in gasoline prices are a volatile influence.

Sales also jumped at electronic stores -- online shopping -- and catalog sales, rising 12.4 percent January through July comparing 2010 to 2009.

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