U.S. retail sales rose 0.1 percent last month after higher taxes cut consumer payroll, decreasing spending, the government reported Wednesday. Retail sales rose in January from December, the Commerce Department said. The reported sales figure follows a 0.5 percent increase in December and is the smallest in three months. Sales fell at auto dealerships, clothing stores, and furniture stores, while rising at home-improvement stores, gas stations, and online retailers, the department reported. So-called core retail sales, which exclude autos, building materials, and gas stations, rose 0.2 percent, the department said.
