US Retail Sales Rebound on Car Buying, Holiday-Season Sales (3)

US retail sales rose in November by the most since July, fueled by a rebound in auto purchases and resilient holiday shopping.

The value of retail purchases, not adjusted for inflation, increased 0.6% after a downwardly revised 0.1% drop in October, Commerce Department data showed Wednesday. Excluding cars, sales climbed 0.5%.

The data suggest consumers took advantage of holiday shopping deals despite lingering concerns about affordability and their job prospects. While those headwinds are expected to remain top of mind for many middle- and lower-income households in the months ahead, wealthier Americans continue to ...