U.S. retail sales increased in November at the beginning of the holiday shopping season, led by online purchases as well as buying of autos, clothing, and electronics, the government reported Thursday, offering the latest sign of underlying momentum in the economy. The Commerce Department said retail sales rose 0.7 percent in November. Plunging gasoline prices caused sales at gasoline stations to drop 0.8 percent, but that freed up money for consumers to spend elsewhere. Over the past 12 months, retail sales are up 5.1 percent. Excluding gasoline stations, retail sales climbed 0.9 percent. Spending on vehicles jumped 1.7 percent, while spending on clothing increased 1.2 percent. So-called "core" retail sales - which exclude automobiles, gasoline, building materials, and food services - increased 0.6 percent last month after a 0.5 percent gain in October.
