U.S. retail sales unexpectedly rose in August, suggesting that the economy remained on a solid footing through much of the third quarter. Retail sales increased 0.1% last month after an upwardly revised 1.

US retail sales increased 0.1% to reach $710.8 billion in August, beating market estimates, according to advance figures released on Tuesday by the US Commerce Department. The estimate was for the figure to show a decline of 0.2%.

Retail sales edged up by 0.1% from July to August, according to the Commerce Department. This modest increase follows a larger surge last month, which marked the highest growth rate in retail sales in a year and a half.