U.S. retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6% in December from a month earlier, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. From a year earlier, sales rose 5.6%. That was a slightly slower finish to the year than in December 2022, when sales rose 5.8% from a year earlier, but well outpaced inflation. Americans spent more on vehicles, clothing, at department stores and online in the final month of the year. Excluding spending on vehicles and at gasoline stations, retail sales also increased 0.6%.

Source: Wall Street Journal January 17, 2024 14:12 UTC