Retail Sales Up 0.7% in November

The Commerce Department said on Thursday retail sales increased 0.7 percent last month after rising by a revised 0.6 percent in October. November's retail sales increase was the largest in five months.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast retail sales, which account for about 30 percent of consumer spending, advancing 0.6 percent after a previously reported 0.4 percent gain in October.

So-called core sales, which strip out automobiles, food services, gasoline and building materials and correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of gross domestic product, increased 0.5 percent after rising 0.7 percent in October.

That suggested consumer spending would likely step up from a two-year low touched in the third quarter.

Spending is being supported by solid employment gains and steady income increases, which could help limit the drag from inventories on fourth-quarter GDP growth. Lower gasoline prices are also helping, though they are a drag on retail sales figures.

The steady stream of fairly upbeat data should give the Fed confidence to start cutting back its monthly $85 billion bond buying program at least by March.

Retail sales last month were buoyed by a 1.8 percent jump in receipts at auto and parts dealers. That helped to offset a 1.1 percent drop in sales at gasoline stations.

Receipts at building materials and garden equipment stores rebounded 1.8 percent after falling 1.5 percent in October.

There were also gains in receipts at furniture, electronics and sporting goods shops, among others. Sales at electronics and appliance stores rose 1.1 percent, while furniture store sales rose 1.2 percent. However, receipts at clothing stores fell 0.2 percent after rising 2.6 percent in October.

(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci)