Retail Sales Rise 0.8 Percent in November

WASHINGTON (AP) – Retail sales rose for a fifth straight month
in November, as the biggest jump in department store sales in two
years gave the holiday shopping season a strong start.

The Commerce Department says retail sales increased 0.8 percent
last month. That came after a 1.7 percent gain in October, which
was propelled by a huge increase in auto sales.

Auto sales retreated a bit in November. But excluding autos,
sales rose 1.2 percent – the best showing since last March.

Department store sales jumped 2.8 percent, the strongest advance
in two years.