U.S. retail flat in November

WASHINGTON — U.S. retail sales edged up 1% in November, the smallest gain in three months, mostly due to a dramatic drop in sales at auto dealerships, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Economists polled by MarketWatch had forecast an increase of 0.3%. Furniture, groceries, and gasoline saw the biggest gains, while department stores continue to struggle against online retailers. While e-retail only rose 0.1% last month, in line with the overall average, it has seen an almost 12% increase over the past year.