Retail Sales Up for Sixth Straight Month

Washington, DC, Jan. 14, 2011 -- Retail sales rose slightly less than expected in December, while sales for all of 2010 reversed two years of contraction with the biggest gain in more than a decade.

Retail sales climbed 0.6%, rising for the sixth straight month as sales declines at electronics and general merchandise stores were offset by gains in gasoline and building materials sales, the Commerce Department said.

Analysts had expected sales to rise 0.8%.