U.S. retail sales in September grew by a better-than-expected 0.6% from August, the U.S. Commerce Department reported today.

Economists had been looking for an increase in the range of 0.2% to 0.3% for the month.

Commerce said that strong auto sales were the main reason for the increase, while sales at department stores and specialty clothing shops were softer as warm weather reduced consumer demand for fall clothing.

September auto sales grew by 1.2% following a 3.3% increase in August.

The higher retail sales might help ease concerns that a housing slump in the U.S., coupled with summer stock market volatility, could tip the U.S. economy into recession.

Meanwhile, U.S. wholesale prices rebounded in September, fueled by gains in the cost of food and energy, while pipeline pressures intensified modestly.

The producer price index for finished goods rose 1.1% in September, the U.S. Labor Department said today, versus August’s 1.4% decline, which was unrevised. The core PPI, which excludes food and energy, was up just 0.1% after rising 0.2% in August.

Wall Street had expected a 0.5% gain in the headline index and a 0.2% rise in the core.

In the 12 months through September, wholesale prices are up 4.4%, while the core is up 2% over the same period.