(Reuters)-Retail sales in the United States fell more than scheduled in January over a month, icy temperatures may have discouraged consumers.

Retail sales fell 0.9% last month, show data published on Friday by the Commerce Department. Economists interviewed by Reuters provided an average of 0.1% after an increase of 0.7% in December (revised figure of 0.4%).

Much of the United States was covered with snow and suffered icy temperatures in the last month. Forest fires in California may also have had a negative impact on consumption.

This drop comes after four consecutive months of high increases, in part reflecting preventive purchases made by consumers in anticipation of import customs duties that could increase the price of goods.

Expenditure continues to be supported by the resilience of the labor market.

Excluding car, fuels, building materials and catering services, sales fell 0.8%, against an increase of 0.8% in December. The consensus was on the other hand on an increase of 0.3%.

This category is the closest to the component of household consumption expenses entering into the calculation of the gross domestic product (GDP).

The yields of the US Treasury fall after the publication of the data, which should maintain the Federal Reserve (Fed) on the path of a reduction in interest rates during the year.

The yield of Treasuries at ten years loses more than 5 base points at 4.4724% and that of the two -year obligation fell from more than 4 to 4.2631%.

(Report Lucia Mutikani, Diana Mandiá, edited by Blandine Hénault)

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