September Retail Sales Beat Estimates

Washington, DC, Oct. 15, 2012 -- Americans were in a spending mood in September and retail sales rose in many categories, according to the Commerce Department.

Retail sales increased 1.1% last month, beating expectations, after an upwardly revised 1.2% rise in August.

Sales outside of autos, gasoline and building materials, rose 0.9% last month.

That was well above the 0.3% gain expected by analysts.