After gaining 0.2% in June, U.S. retail sales registered a 0.5% sequential rise in July. The reading surpassed analysts’ expectations of a 0.1% increase. Higher sales of motor vehicles and clothing mainly kept July retail sales data steady.Barring automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales grew 0.5% in July, following a 0.1% decline in June. On a year-over-year basis, retail sales increased 6.4% in July compared with a 6.1% rise in June.Eight out of 13 major retail categories exhibited a rise in sales in July from the previous month, as per tradingeconomics. Sales at motor vehicle & parts dealers, gasoline stations, apparel stores and online and mail-order retail trade were among the key drivers.A solid labor market and higher take-home pay amid tax reductions probably drove Americans' ability to spend, helping them to tide over the sudden spike in fuel costs. Against this backdrop, we recommend a few ETFs and stocks that can be beneficiaries of July retail sales (read: 4 ETFs in Focus Post July Jobs Data).Online StoresThough brick-and-mortar retailers have been steady in recent times, the appeal of online retailing has been high. Sales at online and mail-order retail trade increased 0.8% (versus 0.7% in June). Amazon.com Inc’s “Prime Day” promotions are deemed to have boosted online sales, per analysts. Such consistency puts Amplify Online Retail ETF IBUY in focus. ProShares Long Online/Short Stores ETF CLIX also deserves a look.Amazon.com Inc. AMZNThe Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company is in the retail sale of consumer products and subscriptions in North America and internationally. It comes from a top-ranked Zacks sector (top 31%).Apparel Sales at clothing & clothing accessories stores recoiled 1.3% in July from a 1.6% fall in June. In this regard, investors can take a look at SPDR S&P Retail ETF XRT,which invests about 23.85% of its weight inapparel.The Buckle Inc. BKE The Zacks Rank #1 company is a foremost retailer of medium to better-priced casual apparel, footwear and accessories for fashion-conscious young men and women. It hails from a top-ranked Zacks industry (top 22%).Energy Sales at gasoline stations rose 0.8% against 0.3% in June. Gasoline prices are on a tear lately. Inflation data also gives cues of that. The product’s price soared to the highest level early this month for the month of August since 2014, probably courtesy of Trump’s sanctions against Iran.Investors thus can take a lookat US Commodity Funds United States Gasoline Fund LP UGA. The underlying index of the fund looks to reflect the changes in the price of gasoline. It charges 75 bps in fees (read: Oil ETFs: What You Need to Know).World Fuel Services Corporation INTThe Zacks Rank #2 company is a global energy management company. It belongs to a top-ranked (top 4/8%) Zacks industry.RestaurantsRestaurants and bars saw a sales gain of 1.3% in July, maintaining the winning momentum of Jun when sales rose 1.6%. Invesco Dynamic Food & Beverage ETF PBJ puts 7.60% of its weight in Restaurants.BJ's Restaurants Inc. BJRIThe Zacks Rank #1 company owns and operates restaurants, located in the United States.Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox?Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Get it free >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN): Free Stock Analysis Report SPDR-SP RET ETF (XRT): ETF Research Reports US GAS FUND LP (UGA): ETF Research Reports AMPL-ONLN RETL (IBUY): ETF Research Reports PWRSH-DYN FD&BV (PBJ): ETF Research Reports BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (BJRI): Free Stock Analysis Report PRO-L ONL/S STR (CLIX): ETF Research Reports To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report