RETAIL SALES ROSE SOLIDLY IN JULY

Consumers are still spending freely on variety of goods

Americans increased their purchases at retailers last month — for clothing, dining out, online goods and other areas — in a sign that solid consumer spending is still powering a resilient U.S. economy.

Retail sales rose a betterthan-expected 0.7 percent in July from June, according to the Commerce Department's report Tuesday. The gain was higher than a revised 0.3 percent increase the previous month and marked four straight months of increases. The figure also surpassed the 0.2 percent increase in consumer prices last month, indicating that shoppers are spending at a healthy pace.

Analysts noted that spending on Amazon Prime Day, the online juggernaut's big two-day sales event that took place earlier last month, also helped boost online sales.

Excluding autos and gas, sales rose a solid 1 percent. A closely watched category of retail sales that excludes auto dealers, gas stations and building materials and feeds into the gross domestic product jumped 1 percent last month compared to the prior month, the biggest move in six months, analysts said.

“Maybe it's a one-off, but Americans put aside their penny-pinching ways and spent big on food and fun in July,” said Robert Frick, corporate economist with Navy Federal Credit Union, in a note published Tuesday.

Department stores posted a 0.9 percent increase, while clothing and accessories stores had a 1 percent gain. Sales at sporting goods stores and hobby stores rose 1.5 percent. At restaurants, sales rose 1.4 percent, while online sales increased 1.9 percent.

a resurgence of locals coming back and they appreciate what the team is doing.”

Currently operated as part of Hilton's Curio Collection, the Hotel La Jolla is long overdue for an upgrade. It has not been renovated since 2012, said Lund. The hotel, which has changed hands a number of times, was acquired two years ago by Kawa Capital Management and CL Hotels, who said at the time of the $43 million purchase that an upgrade of the property's lobby, pool, restaurants and guestrooms was planned.

“Once it was purchased, the ownership kind of wanted to recognize its past but of course, we also want to look to the future, “Lund said. “It needed some love, so they are really looking to brighten up the guest rooms and celebrate our location by the La Jolla beaches. There will be ocean blues and light wood accents that pay homage to our beach location.”

The first phase of that upgrade is a makeover of all the guestrooms and the new restaurant. Upgrades to the pool and the hotel's public spaces will come in a later phase, Lund said.

“It's a complete renovation of guestrooms, with new carpet, vinyl, new beds, furnishings, televisions,” he said. “We're getting new fixtures and granite countertops.”

Sure to grab the most attention, though, from both guests and locals will be the 11th-floor venue, given its commanding views of La

Jolla and the shoreline.

In addition to lightening up and modernizing the decor, the renovation calls for enclosing an existing show kitchen in the dining room with glass. The reason for that, says Lund, is to allow the restaurant to open up the multiple sliding glass windows in the space. While they have the capability to be opened, the hotel is not allowed to do so until the restaurant kitchen is protected by the glass enclosure, Lund explained.

“Even though this is still an indoor restaurant, we will now get that beautiful ocean breeze,” he added.

Because of its location near the ocean, Sea & Sky will still have a focus on coastal cuisine, Lund said. And live music will remain a part of the programming for Cusp's replacement. Cusp currently features what the hotel calls “sunset sessions” on Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. and Lund said he hopes to continue that as well as possibly initiate jazz brunches on the weekends.

Business-wise, the hotel has enjoyed a successful summer, Lund said, with occupancy rates at around 90 percent, and performance back to pre-pandemic levels. But the hotel's makeover should draw even more business, Lund predicts.

“I definitely see a tremendous amount of upside with the renovation,” said, “and it makes sense to start a new chapter and new concept and start making new memories.”