Cars, not bars. That's the upshot of Americans' spending habits in September.
According to Business Insider, spending at bars and restaurants dropped more than it has since 2016.
However, it was offset by an uptick in car sales, which surged 0.8% after declining 0.5% in August.
The US Commerce Dept. reports retail sales were also strong, up 4.7% from a year ago.
A robust labor market is driving consumer spending. The unemployment rate is near a 49-year low of 3.7%.