WASHINGTON - Retail sales increased 0.8% in November as sales excluding autos jumped 1.2%, the strongest gain since March, the Commerce Department reported.
Total October sales increased 1.7%, revised higher from 1.2% reported last month. It was the strongest month for retail sales since March.
Retail sales excluding autos and gasoline grew 0.8%, following a similar gain last month. A core reading of retail sales, excluding autos, gas and building materials, increased 0.9% in November.
Economists polled by Thomson Reuters expected retail sales and sales excluding autos to increase 0.6% for the month, according to the median estimate.
Total retail sales have increased for five consecutive months.
Sales at department stores jumped 2.8%, the strongest figure in two years. Clothing stores reported a 2.7% sales increase for the month and nonstore retailers, like online and mail-order businesses, reported sales increased 2.1%.
Sales slipped 0.6% at electronics stores and furniture stores reported a 0.5% drop in sales. Motor vehicle and parts dealers saw sales decline 0.8% in November, the largest drop since June.
