U.S. LBM, garden sales edge up in November

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Commerce Department reports that retail sales in November edged down 1.1 percent. Meanwhile, the preliminary 0.3 percent gain posted for October was revised to a 0.1 percent decrease. Economists polled by Bloomberg projected a 0.3 percent decline for November. Sales of building and garden materials, however, were a comparative bright spot, rising by 1.1 percent.