Retail sales drop again
Sales at U.S. retailers dropped for the fifth straight month in November as gasoline sales took a record tumble, according to government data on Friday that showed consumers still doing some shopping despite the fact the economy is in recession.
The Commerce Department said total retail sales fell 1.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted $355.66 billion last month following a revised 2.9 percent plunge in October. Excluding motor vehicles and parts, sales were down 1.6 percent in November after a revised 2.4 percent October fall.
The November sales decline was slightly less than the drops of 1.9 percent for total sales and 1.8 percent for sales excluding motor vehicles that had been forecast by Wall Street economists surveyed by Reuters. Sales of furniture, electronics and clothing were up last month after decreasing in October.
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