US Retail Sales Unexpectedly Rise in Solid Start to Holidays
- November purchases rose 0.3%, matching highest estimate
- A separate report showed jobless claims fell to historic lows
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US retail sales unexpectedly picked up in November as lower gasoline prices allowed consumers to spend more to kick off the holiday shopping season.
The value of retail purchases, unadjusted for inflation, increased 0.3%, Commerce Department data showed Thursday. Figures for the prior month were revised lower. Excluding gasoline, sales rose 0.6%.