Consumer Continues to Spend

Marketwatch details:

U.S. retail sales rose for the fourth straight month, climbing 1.2% in October, as consumers flocked to auto showrooms and made more purchases online. Sales for September and August were also revised higher. Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales rose 0.4% in October, the Commerce Department reported Monday. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had forecast total sales to rise by 0.7%, or 0.4% excluding the volatile automotive segment. Retail sales have risen at an annual rate of 6.3% over the past three months. Sales were revised to a 0.7% increase in September, compared to an original reading of 0.6%. August sales were revised up to 0.9% from 0.7%

Source: Census