WASHINGTON - Retail sales grew 0.1% in December after rising a revised 0.4% in November, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.
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The December gain was lower than the 0.3% median increase projected by economists polled by Thomson Reuters.
On a year over year unadjusted basis, retail sales increased 7.7% in 2011, compared to 6.45% in 2010.
Excluding autos, retail sales were down 0.2% in December after rising a revised 0.3% in November. The December drop was the lowest since May 2010 when they decreased 1.0%.
Economists had projected a 0.3% gain for retail sales excluding autos.
Excluding autos and gas, retail sales were unchanged in December following an unrevised 0.2% increase the previous month.
