U.S. retail sales up for third straight month

WASHINGTON — U.S. retail sales saw their third consecutive monthly increase in December, rising by 0.3% according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Building materials were among the categories weighing down the numbers, along with food services and gasoline and automotive segments. When these are excluded, retail sales increased by 0.5% following November’s decline, which was revised lower to 0.1%.