U.S. retail growth misses estimates

WASHINGTON ― U.S. retail sales edged up 0.2% in November, according to the U.S. Commerce Department, as discretionary spending slowed. Sales at building materials stores were unchanged. In a Reuters poll, economists forecast growth of 0.5%. Compared to last November, sales rose 3.3%. Meanwhile, October’s data were revised upward to an increase of 0.4% from the initial estimate of 0.3%.