Spending at US retailers rose more than expected in August, but the growth is masking a deepening inequality among households. David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images Falcon Heights, Minnesota —

Consumer spending is a crucial part of the US economy, accounting for about two-thirds of its growth. And judging from retail sales data released earlier this week, that economic engine appears to be running smoothly. Sales were up a strong 0.6% in August , a month when spending was expected to be somewhat lackluster.

At face value, this latest data appears to be yet another testament to the sheer “resilience” of the US consumer, a storyline that’s become all too familiar these past several years: that ‘despite (insert economic concern here), the US consumer is doing just fine and k

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