Retail Sales Up 1.6%, Redbook Reports

Retail sales rose 1.6% in the week ended Nov. 10, double the 0.8% jump in the week ended Nov. 3, according to the weekly retail sales report released by Johnson Redbook Wednesday.

November was up 1.2% from November 2011, short of the 2.1% increase expected, while sales fell 0.2% from October, missing that target of a 2.1% rise.

According to the report, sales were "soft" prior to elections but picked up into the long Veterans Day weekend. "Some retailers are rolling out and promoting holiday deals earlier than ever and planning on opening their doors on Thanksgiving Day in order to jump-start the weekend madness. Meanwhile, in the Northeast region, shoppers headed to malls and discounters to replenish basic consumables and rebuild following Hurricane Sandy," the report said.

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