Washington, DC, January 13—Retail sales rose 1.2 percent in December, according to a report from the Commerce Department.
Excluding autos, sales rose 0.3 percent, after rising 0.4 percent a month earlier.
Total sales for the month hit a record level of $4.06 trillion last year, up 8 percent from 2003.
December's gain in retail sales followed an increase of 0.1 percent in November.
Economists were expecting an increase of 1 percent in December. Excluding automotive, sales were up 0.4 percent to $267.1 billion.
Discounts during the month of December drove auto sales to a three-year high and sparked a late surge in holiday shopping at chain stores.
Sales at automotive dealerships and auto parts stores increased 4.3 percent in December after dropping 1 percent in November.
Sales at general merchandise stores, which include department stores, rose 0.7 percent last month after rising 0.4 percent in November.
Sales at clothing and accessory stores fell 0.6 percent after falling 0.8 percent. Department stores sold 0.2 percent more merchandise.
Sales at electronics and appliance stores fell 0.2 percent, while furniture sales rose 2.2 percent.
