Retail Sales in U.S. Decrease for First Time in 4 Months

October’s slowdown comes after the prior two months marked the best back-to-back retail sales showing since at least late 2010. Part of the jump in purchases during that period was the result of households snapping up Apple Inc.’s new iPhone 5. Support also came from car and light truck sales, which climbed in September to a 14.9 million pace, the fastest in more than four years. The main reason why all the sales dropped is because hurricane Sandy.