Americans increased their spending at stores and restaurants in August, defying economists' expectations for a slowdown. The latest retail sales report from the U.S. Census Bureau shows spending was up 0.6% from July to August.

The growth comes amid concerns over tariffs, inflation, and a slowdown in hiring. The national unemployment rate recently rose to 4.3%. But despite some economic indicators moving in the wrong direction, consumers are still buying, albeit with caution.

Caleb Silver, the editor-in-chief of Investopedia , credits higher-income households in part for the boost in spending.

"We have concerns about the general direction of the economy right now but we're seeing a lot of the spending being driven by the top 10% of earners," Silver said.

Back-to-school shopping was a

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