Healthy rise in retail sales last month sign of US economic strength

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Retail sales in the U.S. grew by 0.7 percent in November, signaling continued economic strength despite higher interest rates, according to the Commerce Department.

The increase outpaced October's 0.5 percent rise, driven primarily by a 2.6 percent surge in auto sales. Demand for new cars was partly fueled by recovery efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Helene and aggressive discounts from