Retail sales rise in Nov. as shopping picks up

Holiday shopping is off to a solid but unspectacular start as retail sales registered a modest gain in November. The Commerce Department said Friday that retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 0.2 percent to $448 billion last month. This marks an improvement after months of lackluster spending as cheaper gasoline depressed overall sales volumes. But in November, shoppers upped their spending at clothiers, sporting goods stores and electronics outlets. Spending at online retailers like Amazon rose a healthy 0.6 percent. General merchandise stores also improved, but in a bleak sign for chains such as Macy’s sales at department stores were flat. The report should provide some relief after evidence of tepid shopping during Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving when consumers often splurge — and provide a better sense about their confidence in the broader economy.